Human rights at the grassroots

The UCL Student Human Rights Programme's 'Grassroots Initiative' sets out to educate children about the importance of respect for one another and humanity. Alice Cole Roberts, who is a current student on the MA in Human Rights at UCL Political Science and a coordinator of the Grassroots Initiative, describes the range of activities on offer, and what children made of the concept at a June workshop held at John Cass School, in Stepney, East London. ?Human rights education is much more than a lesson in schools or a theme for a day; it is a process to equip people with the tools they need to live lives of security and dignity.' Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations ?Even basic knowledge of rights and duties that, as human beings, we should observe, will help make a considerable difference to the way many approach every day social situations. This is why it is so important to realise from an early age that living in a bubble of ignorance does not mean that you will go unaffected by the changes around you. Human rights are your rights. We cannot afford to be complacent in the struggle to protect our rights. 'So' we build the foundations, we listen, we argue, we discuss in order to spread the word, one youngster at a time, with the aim of inspiring an attitude of respect for one another and our common humanity..