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General Comment 26 - why's it so important for clean air?
(28/04/22)
Posted by : Transform our World

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) have recently opened an online questionnaire called General Comment 26 "Children’s rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change".   

 

Last year, many of you were involved in the Freedom to breathe campaign, which saw over 29,000 children worldwide calling on the UNCRC to acknowledge their right to clean air.  

 

The UNCRC’s General Comment 26 questionnaire is a great opportunity for all children and young people to take action on air pollution and use their voices to help realise a child’s right to clean air.   

 

General Comment 26 is a consultation process which is run by the UNCRC and will shape one of the next amendments to children's rights.  The initial consultations have started, and the process and outputs are expected to be finalised in 2023. All children and organisations worldwide can respond to this consultation.   

 

The topic of environment and climate change includes clean air. 

 

During a virtual event in November 2021, where the 29,000+ children’s calls were shared with the UNCRC and supported by 62 civil society organisations, academics and businesses - Mr Philip Jaffé, Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child acknowledged the children’s right to clean air and confirmed it will be elevated within the UNCRC.

 

However, clean air has not yet been clearly stated as a child’s right. 

 

Involving children and young people in General Comment 26 is a great opportunity for them let the UNCRC know why they think clean air and a child’s right to clean air is important.

 

It doesn’t matter whether or not the students were involved in the Freedom to breathe campaign – all children can take action on air pollution and use their voices to help realise a child’s right to clean air. 

 

Access the questionnaire

 

Activities on Transform Our World to help prepare students to take the questionnaire

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