In times when aggression and fists surround us in a sustainable manner, there is this foundation which has set as a goal to get the most vulnerable ones among us acquainted with their rights. That is done in order for our kids not to become silent victims of injustice and whenever needed, to look for nemesis and protect themselves.

“I child must be free and must have its own opinion. It also must have respect for itself and the others. I don’t need other rights – I think I am good this way,” says Trifon, 9. He participates in the workshop of the Art and Child Foundation, dedicated to the rights of children. The NGO has set as a goal to translate the Convention on the Rights of the Child within the frames of a project named Europe in Sofia with Young Bulgarians – Draw My Rights. While exposing down into pictures their image of a fairer and more equal world, they also learn to contribute via obligations.

“Rule No 1 – clean after yourself; No 2 – treat with respect the rights of the other kids and last but not least, rule No 3 – know your own rights and protect them,” Maria, 9, counts.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was ratified in 1991, but has still remained one of the least explained legal texts in Bulgaria, Chair of the Art and Child Foundation Boryana Zanova explains. As it is an obligation of each adult to get the children acquainted with their rights, the latter begin to comprehend those during the workshop with the assistance of fairytales and role playing.

"When a child comprehends its rights, it gets tolerant to the rights of the others and also begins to learn its obligations,” Mrs. Zanova explains. “The Convention has 40 basic rights written down in it. The first one is that all children around the world are equal, with no discrimination in terms of gender, age, skin color or religion. Besides that all children should live in a safe environment – beautiful, cozy and loving them, as well as in an environmentally friendly state. All children also have the right to be protected against physical, emotional and sexual abuse. These are the basic rights we tell the kids about in the form of different role play situations.”

One of the major things the kids are taught to is where to seek help in case their rights have been violated, in order not to hide any pain or fear inside.

“Family comes first, since children and especially the smallest ones find it difficult to reach the institutions,” Boryana Zanova says. “That is why they shouldn’t be ashamed to share anything with their parents. However, in case their rights have been abused at home, they should seek help from an adult first – a friend or a teacher. Moreover, it is hard for a child to call 112 and to express its outrage or to voice its pain to the operator. Unfortunately, not each family takes enough care of its children, nor is the living or studying environment always the best. Thus for instance we witness situations, abusing their right of absolutely safe school environment. This project kicks off the very start of any talk on children’s rights – and we need to talk a lot, because we have lots of problems as well.”

The little ones depict the issue, not the solution, while drawing. For instance – parents with their noses up into their smartphones or a brother on the old TV set with screwdrivers in his hand. The kids’ drawings will be included in a book – a legal guide with the Convention’s texts on the occasion of June 1^st, International Children’s Day. The best drawn character will become the recognizable symbol of knowing the children’s rights.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev