Twenty young people from across Saint Lucia have been appointed as the country’s first Child Rights Ambassadors, a new initiative aimed at ensuring children’s voices are heard when decisions are made about issues affecting their lives.
The ambassadors will engage with children and young people in their schools and communities, raising awareness about child rights, listening to the concerns of their peers and bringing those perspectives into national discussions on child protection, education, health, justice and social services.
The programme, introduced during the inaugural National Child Rights Symposium earlier this month, is being implemented by the Department of Equity, Social Justice, Gender and Older Persons in collaboration with UNICEF. It forms part of Saint Lucia’s commitment under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognises children’s right to express their views and have them considered in decisions that affect them.
Permanent Secretary Dr Charmaine Hippolyte-Emmanuel said the initiative is about giving children a meaningful role in conversations that directly affect their lives.
“If we do not protect our children that we call the future, do you think, or do you foresee us having a future? Not at all. Therefore, we are committed to that kind of protection for you. As we convene, I encourage every child and young person to be a part of this conversation. It makes absolutely no sense to speak about you and you are not a part of the conversation.”
The 20 ambassadors were selected from student nominees after an open invitation was extended to schools across the island. Officials said a second phase of the programme will encourage greater participation from schools in the southern districts after distance limited their involvement in the initial round.
Before taking up their new roles, the ambassadors completed five days of training in child rights, leadership, advocacy and communication. The programme also introduced them to photography and visual storytelling as tools for highlighting issues affecting children and young people.
UNICEF Partnerships (Advocacy) Officer Joan Tull said photography can give young people another way to speak up about their experiences and advocate for change.
“Photography is a powerful way to stand up for your rights. By capturing images of your school, your community, your friendships or issues that affect children and young people, you can help raise awareness and encourage positive change. Your photos can highlight things that are working well and draw attention to areas where improvements are needed, helping to ensure that your voices are heard and your experiences are valued.”
The ambassadors are expected to begin working with children and young people in communities across the island in the coming months.
