This archive report was first published on 3 September 2021.
Published on September 3, 2021, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has collaborated with Amnesty International to create a book that empowers children to fight for their rights.
The book, titled 'Know Your Rights and Claim Them,' is co-authored with human rights lawyer Geraldine Van Bueren, who was instrumental in drafting the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Angelina Jolie, a special envoy for the UN refugee agency UNHCR, hopes the book will 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 those rights, so this book is to help the kids have a tool book to say 'these are your rights, these are things you need to question to see how far you, depending on your country and circumstance, are from accessing those rights, what are your obstacles, others that came before you and fought, ways you can fight'," Jolie explained.
The book addresses various issues, including identity, justice, education, and protection from harm, and provides guidance on becoming an activist while ensuring the safety of children.
Examples of powerful young voices from around the world, such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and climate activist Greta Thunberg, are featured in the book.
"It's really important to band together with other young people... that's the way we will ever be able... to make change," said London-based Christina Adane, 17, who campaigns for a healthier food system.
