9 Films about children’s rights

Written by Vanessa Terschluse and Sena Atici

Amnesty campaigns for the protection and respect of children’s rights. It is everyone's  responsibility to protect and empower children so that they are healthy, happy and engaged citizens. Fully recognising each child's rights and humanity protects them from abuse, gives them a voice and makes sure their needs such as an education and time to play are protected and fulfilled.

Join our Children's Human Rights Network to find out more. 

Short films are a useful and fun education resource that can help teachers, educators and facilitators to engage students with their own rights. They can also help us to stay informed and remind ourselves of our responsibility of protecting those rights.

There may be content that is unsuitable for some audiences, therefore we recommend you watch each clip in full to check that its suitable before you use it in an educational setting.

For younger students

What are child rights?
This video by UNICEF Australia is a good conversation starter to get younger students thinking about their rights as children. 

We’ve All Got Rights 
This animated song by children and staff from Crosby High School, a UNICEF UK Rights Respecting School in Liverpool, is a wonderful way to engage young students.

Adora Svitak: What can adults learn from children?
This TED talk delivered by 12-year-old Adora Svitak explains the importance of giving a voice to children and how empowering children can be beneficial for both children and adults.

For older students

Children´s and Young People´s Rights
This animation introduces the range of rights that children are entitled to. 

Somalia’s Children Under Attack
Watch Amnesty researcher Benedicte Goredrieaux explain the situation faced by children in Somalia. Surrounded by violence, these children are denied their childhood and forced to face a very brutal reality.

This is what we die for: Child labour in the DRC cobalt mines
This video shows the conditions of child labours in the DRC cobalt mines, which end up supplying batteries to technology giants such as Apple, Samsung and Sony

States’ obligation to invest in children’s rights
This video highlights the importance of government prioritising children and their rights in public budgeting. 

Children are citizens? Are they?
This TEDx talk by Enakshi Ganguly & Bharti Ali explores the complexity of children’s rights and challenges to put our own actions in question.

For adults

Iraq’s Lost Generation
This video gives a powerful visual insight into the most vulnerable victims of the fights between the Iraqi Army and the so called Islamic State: children.
Warning: Disturbing content.

Join our Children's Human Rights Network to find out more about Amnesty International UK's campaigning work for children's rights.