Street of Children’s Rights
Children have rights! And so that all children and adults become aware of this, there is a “Street of Children’s Rights” in the Stadtpark.
Children’s rights are human rights taking into account the special needs of children and their political, social and economic status. The various children’s rights have been codified in the Children’s Rights Convention. On 20 November, 1989, the convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly and then ratified by 193 states. The convention with its 54 articles is the one human rights treaty ratified by the most states. Only the USA and Somalia have not adopted this convention.
The top priority is the child’s welfare. Children are not only the objects of protection and care by adults, but they are also bearers of their own rights who should and can co-determine their own development. For this it is necessary that children know their rights.
Creation of the “Street of Children’s Rights”
In order to inform all children, young people and adults in Nuremberg, the Children’s Commission has initiated the “Street of Children’s Rights”. It is intended to tell children more about their rights in a playful manner suitable for them. In October 2005, the Children’s Commission invited children from the day-care centre Neue Hegelstraße and from the Children’s and Youth House Bertha to get involved in the design and implementation. First of all, together with two artists, Ursula Rössner and Jürgen Eckart, they painted sketches and built models for the children’s rights they had chosen. Israeli artist, Dani Karavan, the creator of the Way of Human Rights agreed to act as patron for the project. After the models were presented to the public at a press conference, the works of art were created, with generous support by many sponsors and under the overall control of the City Parks Department.
On 2 October, 2007, the Street of Children’s Rights was inaugurated by Lord Mayor Dr. Ulrich Maly at a ceremony, in the presence of the children and the artists, Ursula Rössner and Jürgen Eckart, Dani Karavan, as well as Eugénie Musayidire, the 2007 International Nuremberg Human Rights Awards winner.
Stations on Children’s Rights
So far, seven colourful and inviting stations have been created in the Street of Children’s Rights, illustrating the following rights:
- Tortoise – right to health and an intact environment
- Play Lane – right to play and leisure time
- Amphitheatre – freedom of expression, right to information and participation
- Equality Figures – right to equal treatment
- Letter Tree – right to privacy and intimacy
- Parent Sculptures – right to parental care
- Advertising Pillar – right to information
Since the work of art is situated in a much frequented public space, it brings children, young people and adults face to face with the importance of children’s rights in an unobtrusive manner. The advertising pillar and the signs are used to provide visiting school classes, day-care centres and individual visitors with essential basic information on the UN Convention on the Rights of Children, while the stations provide a playful and sensuous experience of children’s rights.