Children involved in treaty drafting for first time

Young Advisor Robert spent three days in Geneva earlier this month, and was one of just five children from around the world who addressed the United Nations on the right to education. 

A UN working group is considering an optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child to require countries to provide free pre-primary and secondary education. If agreed, the new optional protocol would give children at least one year of free pre-school education and free secondary education. Many countries, like Scotland, already provide this. It’s the first time the UN Human Rights Council has involved children in the treaty drafting process, and when Nada al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, opened the session, she said directly to the five young people: “Your participation is not symbolic, but essential.” 

Supported by the Commissioner’s office, Robert talked about the situation in Scotland, and barriers to accessing education. He ensured children’s voices were heard by decision-makers at the UN Human Rights Council. He has written a blog about his unforgettable experience of preparing for and speaking at the Palais des Nations…

“I’d been preparing for weeks alongside staff from the Commissioner’s office, who gave me a lot of support”

When I walked into Room XVII at the Palais des Nations, I got a sense of how important the UN thought listening to young people like me was. It was a huge room, and all the countries who were going to be there had their places clearly marked in the rows of seats. I was nervous, but in a good way. I saw people setting up the mics and name plates on the stage which made it all seem real, but I knew that I could do it. 

I had been preparing for this for weeks, alongside staff from the Commissioner’s office who gave me a lot of support. When I first found out I was going, I couldn’t quite believe it. There were only five children from around the world getting the opportunity to take part, and I was representing the region of ‘Western Europe and other countries’.  

Before going to Geneva, every Saturday for five weeks, we took part in an online meeting with the other children, and people from the UN and Child Right Connect who were helping to organise the whole event. The other young people involved were Karen from Mexico, Lana from Croatia, Roberto from Liberia, and Sania from Indonesia.  

We spent time preparing what we were each going to say, what we were each going to do, and we also found out more about Geneva and how the whole process at the UN would work. 

I travelled to Geneva on Sunday, 31 August, with two of the Commissioner’s team, and the following day was my first at the UN. I got to meet the other young people in person and explored the Palais des Nations. The next day was the big day for me – I was speaking three times. 

The first speech covered the subject of “protecting the right to education,” and I was asked by Lana: “Why is access to public education — both pre-primary and secondary — important to you?”  

I explained that education is not just about reading, writing and maths, but also learning about human rights, about different cultures, and the natural environment. Children should also learn the knowledge and skills they need to live in society. 

At the same session, I explained more about the work the Commissioner’s office and its Young Advisors had been doing on education over the past two years and what we had heard about barriers to going to school. 

In the afternoon, we looked at early childhood care and education as part of the right to education. I told the room about barriers children and families can face in Scotland when it comes to accessing pre-school education, like nursery. 

All three of my speeches went really well, and I felt that everyone who was there listened to us young people and took on board what we said.  

We will need to wait and see what happens next, whether there will eventually be an optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. But one thing is for sure, our participation was real, and we weren’t just there to tick a box. 

I feel incredibly lucky to have had this experience and it would never have happened if I wasn’t part of the Young Advisors group. It’s been an amazing opportunity, and I’ve loved every moment of it.