Human Rights Bunting: Children Expressing What Their Rights Mean to Them


Human Rights Bunting: Children Expressing What Their Rights Mean to Them

As an artist and educator, I have always believed that creativity and freedom are inseparable. Human rights — the basic freedoms and protections that belong to everyone simply because we are human — are central to my work and life. My mission is to reflect the bright face of the present and future to those who do not see it so clearly, and part of that mission has been bringing human rights education to communities across the UK and beyond.

Over the years, I have run workshops and events in a variety of spaces: schools across the UK, city squares, my own pottery and gallery, and even a Scout Jamboree with 50,000 young people. At each event, children, families, and community members explore human rights through hands-on, creative activities — making these ideas accessible, engaging, and fun.

Human Rights Bunting

Human Rights Bunting is one of the projects I am most passionate about. It is a simple, open art project where children are invited to explore what fairness, safety, and respect mean in their own lives. At each event, children create small pieces of bunting using drawing and words. Each piece begins with a simple prompt:

“Everyone should…”

From there, the responses are entirely their own. Some children draw homes. Some write about safety. Some talk about being listened to. Each piece becomes part of a growing line of bunting — a shared artwork made from many individual voices. When hung together, these pieces create a powerful visual expression of what children believe matters.

Where the Ideas Come From

The project is inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that sets out basic rights and freedoms for all people. To make these ideas accessible to children, we use materials from Youth for Human Rights International, which provide a child-friendly version of these rights. Their booklets are available free (by donation), helping children understand big ideas in a simple and approachable way.

For older participants and adults, further information can be found at United for Human Rights, which presents the same principles in a broader context.

How It Works

Human Rights Bunting is a walk-in, open activity. There is no set lesson and no pressure. Children can:

  • choose an idea that matters to them

  • draw or write their response

  • add their piece to the bunting line

The process is quick, creative, and inclusive. Every contribution is valued equally.

A Simple Aim

This project is not about formal teaching. It is about giving children a space to think and express:

  • What feels fair

  • What feels important

  • What they believe everyone should have

The result is a growing collection of voices — honest, direct, and often very clear.

Looking Ahead

As more events take place, this blog will document the growing bunting — a record of children’s ideas brought together through art. Over time, these collective works may be shared more widely, helping to reflect how young people understand their rights today.

Through these projects, I aim to show that human rights are not just words in a document — they are lived, shared, and celebrated in communities, through creativity, discussion, and expression. You can learn more about my projects and philosophy on my site, and explore the broader human rights principles at United for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights International.







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