Angelina Jolie wants children to “fight” with the new book on children’s rights

September 2 (Reuters) – Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie says she hopes to empower children around the world with tools to “fight” for their rights with a book she has written with Amnesty International.

“Know Your Rights and Claim Them” – written with human rights lawyer Geraldine Van Bueren, one of the original drafters of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – aims to empower children of the knowledge needed to challenge injustices safely.

“There are a lot of kids at risk around the world and we just don’t get enough of it,” Jolie told Reuters in an interview. “These are their rights, decided years ago based on what would make them healthy, balanced, safe and stable adults.”

Jolie, a special envoy from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said she hoped the book would also remind governments of their commitment to the global treaty enshrining children’s civil, social, political and economic rights.

“We spent a lot of time blocking these rights, so this book helps kids have a toolkit to say‘ these are your rights, these are things you have to question to see to what extent, according to your country and circumstances, are access to these rights, what are your obstacles, others that have preceded you and fought, ways to fight. “So it’s a manual to fight.”

The six-year-old mother said she organized the UN convention at home for her children, but was surprised to learn that her own country, the United States, has not ratified it.

“This made me angry and made me start wondering what that means? So for each country, what is this idea about, you are entitled to an education … but why are there so many children out there? from school? Why are Afghan women harmed if they go there? ”she said.

HOW TO BE AN ACTIVIST

The book is about identity, justice, education and protection from harm, among other issues. It provides guidance for becoming an activist, being safe, and a glossary of terms and organizations.

“Through the book, you have to find your own way forward, because we are very concerned about the safety of children. We don’t want children to just run around shouting for their rights and putting themselves in danger,” Jolie said.

The book is full of examples of powerful young voices from around the world, such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, climate activist Greta Thunberg and 15-year-old Palestinian journalist Janna Jihad.

“I was trying … to show the world what Palestinian children face on a daily basis,” he told Jolie and other young activists in a video call on Jihad, who lives in the Israeli-occupied West Bank village of Nabi Salih. , which was attended by Reuters, where they commented on their campaign work.

“It’s really important to join other young people … so we can never change,” added 17-year-old Christina Adane, who is based in London, who is campaigning for a healthier food system.

The book comes out on Thursday in Britain and can be booked in other countries, with the aim of being published worldwide.

“We’ll find that some adults from some countries are going to block the book and the kids will find it, so I think that way it will reach more children,” Jolie said.

“The kids will become aware of each other and could even be a part of translating it and getting it delivered.”

Report by Rollo Ross in Los Angeles and Marie-Louise Gumuchian in London; additional reports from Sarah Mills; Written by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Edited by Alex Richardson

Our standards: the principles of trust of Thomson Reuters.