Member

The United Nations is involved through UNICEF in a rather wonderful charity called Rights Respecting Schools. For any noble Lords who have never heard of it or never been to one, a rights-respecting school is a remarkable institution. Whether a primary school or secondary school, it has embedded into its entire ethos and day-to-day activities the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child—it is completely intrinsic in it. To listen to those children who, under this scheme, become ambassadors and spokespeople for their rights and the rights of their fellow pupils, it is remarkable to hear their ability to articulate clearly and passionately, but also lucidly, why rights-respecting is so important. Interestingly, some of the staff in those schools tell stories of children going on to university and being absolutely horrified when they arrive there to hear some of the views expressed by those arriving from non-rights-respecting schools. They seem to have, or feel that they have, the right to say whatever they want about anybody and anything, totally irrespective of their rights. This is an example of what the UNCRC can do in action.