Youth environmental movements, actively raising their voices around the world, send a clear message: the young generations are not only environmentally-conscious, but also determined to defend their rights and preserve the only planet we have. Their call expresses the need to recognise the many links between a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment and children’s right to be heard and participate. How can we then build on these movements and recognise children as direct agents of change? How can climate action be organised, sustained and deployed in a way that upholds children’s rights and the effective participation of children? By speaking to children’s rights experts, environment specialists and young climate activists, this MOOC will examine concepts, standards and practices of child participation in environmental matters.

THE PROGRAMME

The course runs over 6 weeks and is organised in 3 modules:

• Module 1 is an introduction to children’s rights and the environment, with a focus on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its articles related to both child participation and the environment.
• Module 2 is dedicated to the right to a healthy and sustainable environment for children, with attention to the link between human rights, the environment and natural resources as well as environmental sustainability and holistic education.
• Module 3 deals with child participation and action in environmental matters and looks at the role of children as agents of change and as rights-holders in climate litigation.

LECTURERS AND EXPERTS

Designed by the Global Campus of Human Rights E-Learning Department in cooperation with renowned lecturers and experts, including Right Livelihood Laureates, the MOOC features relevant actors from a multitude of perspectives on the topic, ranging from children’s rights experts to environment specialists, from representatives of UN bodies and international organisations to young climate activists. Contributors include, among many others: Yousra Abourabi, Université Internationale de Rabat; Maude Barlow, Right Livelihood Laureate; David R. Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment; Victor Karunan, Right Livelihood College; John Knox, Wake Forest University; Laura Lundy, Queen’s University Belfast; Raul Montenegro, Right Livelihood Laureate; Luisa Neubauer, Fridays For Future.

INTERESTED IN JOINING?

This course is for participants (students; governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental staff; legal and media professionals; researchers; young climate activists; committed citizens…) from all over the world who are actively interested and engaged in children’s rights work and wish to deepen their knowledge about the theory and practice of child participation in environmental matters and related developments, key debates and possibilities for transformation.

For more information and to enrol, visit the website here or contact us at e-learning@gchumanrights.org.