Runnymede Pupils write a report for the United Nations

Five Year 6 children from Runnymede St Edward’s Catholic Primary in West Derby have recently responded to a call from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights asking for input from children globally to a report they are writing to all UN Member States about child rights.  This report will tell governments how they can make sure that children have what they need to live a happy and healthy life and get all the support they need to develop.

The students in Year 6 at Runnymede are currently undertaking the ER Awards Program, run by the Edmund Rice Schools’ Education Office that encourages them to raise their voices and be young change makers. As part of the Edmund Rice network of schools, all pupils are taught about advocacy and human rights and encouraged to live lives of love in service of their communities.

The group 10- and 11-year-olds prepared their report with support from Miss Peaston, their Headteacher and Ann Nichols, the Network facilitator for the 10 Edmund Rice schools in England. Aided by specially prepared materials produced by Child Rights Connect, the Runnymede students were able to compile their opinions on the challenges and difficulties that children in their own community face, identify groups of vulnerable children who experience more difficulties than others, recount what they know about extra help the UK government provides to families who may be struggling and possibly most importantly of all, make recommendations about what more the government could do and what they could change to improve support for children in the UK who may not be able to access their right to a safe, healthy, happy and fair upbringing.

In order to create their report, students have been learning about Human Rights and the role of the United Nations, especially focussing on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.  Our Edmund Rice network works directly with the United Nations Human Rights Council through our own Human Rights NGO  ‘Edmund Rice International’, it is through this connection that young people in Edmund Rice schools can directly have influence on national and international government policies that protect Human Rights for all children and all people, everywhere.  As a follow up to their written report, the students are now invited to take part in a live online discussion with the United Nations Human Rights Office on March 15^th, this is something they are very excited about!

They enjoyed a floor-up zoom call with Brother Tino D’Abreu from Edmund Rice International who commented the students for their work and spoke more about ERI’s work.

Miss Peaston, their Headteacher said: “We are delighted to be involved in such an important process that recognises that children have voices that need to be heard and valued on an international platform. As a school, whose curriculum and ethos is centred around the 8 essentials of Edmund Rice Education, showing compassion for those in need and concern for the whole person is paramount in the work we undertake with our children to become inspiring Christian leaders of the future.’

Shreya, one of the pupils adds: ‘I feel privileged to be given this opportunity to change how governments protect children’s rights and the way society thinks.’

Maria says, ‘that poverty and the cost-of-living crisis are big issues that are affecting children’s rights in our community.’

Cillian added that he is looking forward to the online discussion with the United Nations ‘as it will be such an important platform and a way to influence major change.’

Ann Nichols of the Edmund Rice Network reported that ‘working with such compassionate and well-informed young people is a privilege. It is truly inspiring to witness their commitment to social justice and to being the change they want to see in the world.’