The Open University's children's rights report supports book by Amnesty International UK

The Open University’s Children’s Research Centre (OUCRC) has launched a report ‘informed by children’ to mark the 30^th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The findings will support a book by Amnesty International UK (AIUK) to educate and empower children and young people.

Following months of studies with children and young people, aged between four to 18 years old from across nine project settings in England and Wales, the OUCRC’s report, ‘Representing children’s rights from discussion through to illustration and interpretation’ captures children and young people’s views and understandings about their rights. The resulting themes include, expression and difference; friendship; health and hygiene; education and learning; equality, fairness and diversity; and safety and protection.

Prompted by concern that children and adults are largely unaware of children’s human rights, the book, aimed at children and teenagers, will be published in 2021. Illustrated by a selection of international artists, the books will bring together a diverse range of children’s experiences.

Dr Liz Chamberlain, Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at the OU and co-Director of the OUCRC, said:

“The OUCRC are immensely proud to have worked with AIUK on this research, making visible children and young people’s voices on key issues that affect their 21^st century everyday lives. This research has been a unique opportunity to shape a new book, which will help us better inform children and young people across the globe to both understand and claim their rights.”

Adopted in 1989, the UNCRC was the first comprehensive human rights treaty on children. It established a framework for ensuring the rights and well-being of all children, from civil and political rights, to economic, social and cultural rights.

Newlands Primary School in Southampton have been involved in the OUCRC’s report. Vickie Jones, Global Learning Manager at Newlands talks about the schools involvement in the report and collaboration with AIUK.