Rights Museum gives expression to children’s treasured objects

Innovative exhibition by young people in the National Museum of Ireland

The Ombudsman for Children’s Office will today (Tuesday 20 March) unveil its innovative Rights Museum curated by young people at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks.

The event, to mark the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, will be attended by the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard  Bruton TD. The exhibition is a portrait of young people as told by personal objects they have chosen to express how they see their rights in reality.

Speaking in advance of the launch, Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children, said: “The Rights Museum gives expression to children’s rights under the UN Convention and in many ways, asks whether rights for all children and young people are fully protected and realised.”

He continued: “This innovative exhibition paves the way for our new permanent online resource for schools to explore children’s rights through storytelling and art-making workshops, and to create their own school ‘pop-up’ Rights Museum. I would like to thank the students at Larkin Community College for collaborating in what was a very successful pilot project.”

Welcoming the Rights Museum, the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD, said: “The Rights Museum is a unique project for young people that combines education and culture in an imaginative way. I look forward to seeing this project for schools extended to more young people across the country.”

Minister Bruton added: “Children and young people have the right to give their opinion, and for us as adults to listen and take it seriously. As part of our plan to make Ireland’s education and training service the best in Europe, I’m keen to involve the voices of students and parents more. We’re introducing a new law which will require schools to have a Parents and Students charter in place that will ensure parents, children and young people have a voice in their education. I commend this education project initiated by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office, which gives voice to young people in an innovative and engaging way.”

The Rights Museum will be launched at the National Museum of Ireland, Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, today, Tuesday 20 March, at 2.00pm. The exhibition will run until 30th May 2018. A number of young people, aged 13 years to 15 years, from Larkin Community College will be available for interview with their teachers.

A number of young people share their curated objects of choice: Isabella shares her personal notebook. This represents a right to privacy (Article 16). Ciarán and Kyle share their grandad’s mass card. They are cousins. This represents a right to practice your own culture (Article 20). Sasha shares the crystal ornament that belongs to her little brother, representing a right to live with a family who cares for you (Article 9).

 

Media Queries: Niamh Connolly, Communications Manager, Ombudsman for Children’s Office niamh_connolly@oco.ie (01) 8656800 or 087 1484173; Helen Beaumont, Education & Outreach, National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks hbeaumont@museum.ie (01) 677 7444 or 087 2373192

 

Note to Editors:
The OCO in collaboration with Collapsing Horse Theatre and the National Museum of Ireland, are developing permanent online resources to support junior cert students in exploring children’s rights by creating their own school-based ‘pop-up’ Rights Museum.
These resources will be available on our website www.oco.ie from May 2018. The OCO is marking the 25th Anniversary of Ireland’s Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) with a year-long programme of education, events and activities. The office is collaborating with diverse organisations on a range of creative projects to highlight and listen to children and young people’s voices in Ireland. For information on the range of events see https://www.oco.ie/childrens-rights/un-convention/

• 20 March 2018
• Type: Press Release