Jolie, who inspired our books on child rights (and helped write the first one for teenagers, Know Your Rights and Claim Them). The new book begins with a ‘Human rights time travel’ section to show where human rights and child rights came from. It interprets the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which almost every country in the world has signed up to, into 15 rights young readers can understand and relate to, from having the right to play and to an education to being protected from harm. For each right there is a ‘What is really happening’ section. The book dives into important questions:
Who’s in charge of child rights? Are governments failing to uphold them? What is the United Nations? There’s guidance on online safety, fake news, finding helpers and allies, mental health. There are tips on what to do when child rights aren’t working: how to raise awareness on something important in their life, and how to educate a grown-up about child rights so knowledge and solidarity spread.
Throughout are stories of children who took action when their rights were denied. Kez Valdez from the Philippines, after living on the streets, became an activist to help improve the lives of other street children. In the UK, Amy, Jaime, Kane and Jamie, who have additional
Learning together
Parents and carers and children can learn about child rights together and support young people in their activism using Amnesty’s free, downloadable education resources. This includes:
Activities to accompany These Rights are Your Rights A 90-minute course, An Introduction to Child Rights
amnesty.org.uk/education-resources-childrens-human-rights
learning needs and are wheelchair users, got children with accessibility issues involved in town-planning decisions.
Sadly, many vulnerable children are at risk
of not receiving, or even knowing about, their rights. These stories are a reminder to the young reader that the experiences of others might be different from their own, and it is possible to stand up for others safely, often in simple yet brave ways.
Angelina Jolie tells them: ‘Laws get broken all the time, but it is harder for this to happen if we know what they are and what can be done to stop it. This is what this book is all about… When young people join together, you are an unstoppable force.’
PHOTO Below Florence and Willow, both aged 9, find that children’s rights can be fun. © Holly Parker-Monks/AI
BOOK REVIEWS
‘This book has motivated me’ Tomi, age 7, said:
Florence, age 9, said:
‘I can’t wait to tell my friends that we have the right to play! I enjoyed the tips on how to stand up for everyone and to always be yourself, and thought it was cool that the children in Wales made their government make changes to their playgrounds and community.’
‘My favourite parts were the story about Zahra Joya, the journalist who lived in Afghanistan, and all the little jokes in the corner of the pages. I would recommend this book, it’s motivated me.’
30 AMNESTY WINTER 2024
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