Professor Geraldine Van Bueren QC from Queen Mary’s School of Law is set to work on a new children’s book with Hollywood star Angelina Jolie. The themes of the book will be based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
The unique collaboration has been organised by Amnesty International and came as a result of shared concerns about children’s rights.
Geraldine Van Bueren, Professor of International Human Rights Law at Queen Mary University of London, was one of the original drafters of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The material of the book will be based on real-life testimonies from children around the globe on how they have used their rights to remedy violations in their own lives including climate change and children with refugee status.
In 2003 Professor Van Bueren QC was awarded the Child Rights Lawyer Award which recognises lawyers who have undertaken outstanding work in the field of children’s rights. She also previously advised the UN and the Commonwealth on drafting international laws to protect children and on rights for the poor including the right to food.
“There are many myths surrounding human rights which are dangerous because they are disempowering,” said Professor Van Bueren.
“The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children. The fact that children have rights is regrettably all too often overlooked.
“I hope that through this work, which is based on real-world examples, children will be able to understand what rights mean for them.”
Kumi Naidoo, Secretary-General of Amnesty International said: “Children cannot defend themselves and others if they do not even know that they have rights, let alone what those rights are. We hope this beautiful book will empower all children to know and understand their rights, as well as where they can go for help.”
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