Children as young as five show surprising understanding of human rights

Children aged five to nine were able to engage with complex ideas about human rights, including fairness, freedom, equality and responsibility. 29 of the 34 children suggested a new right when asked whether anything was missing from the picturebook, showing that they were not simply repeating the rights presented to them. Children connected human rights to their own lives, drawing on personal experiences as well as stories, cultural knowledge and conversations with their peers.