Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
Source: DTE
Context: The article discusses the importance of child participation in governance and the need to recognize children as political citizens.
“Children as political citizens” refers to the concept of recognizing and involving children in the political and decision-making processes of a society or nation.
It emphasizes the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its focus on the right to participation among children. Child participation should go beyond school-based initiatives and be recognized as a robust and sustained institutional process.
Examples:
| Activist | Background & Initiatives |
| Greta Thunberg | Swedish teenager known for climate activism. Started the “Fridays for Future” movement to demand climate action. A prominent voice for environmental issues and youth engagement in climate politics. |
| Malala Yousafzai | Pakistani activist advocating for girls’ education. Spoke out against the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education and survived an attack. Symbol of girls’ right to education worldwide. |
| Thandiwe Abdullah | Co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Youth Vanguard. Advocates for racial justice and equality. Raises awareness about systemic racism and police brutality. |
| Emma Gonzalez | Survivor of the Parkland school shooting in the U.S. Co-founded the “Never Again MSD” movement advocating for stricter gun control laws to prevent further school shootings. |
Usage: The examples can be used in Governance/ Ethics/ Essay Questions
