Participation is a right for each child – UNICEF Rep Brigham

Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Little Amaya; See Me, Hear Me – a children’s day exhibition using art and technology was inaugurated late last week at the Lotus Tower celebrating World’s Children’s Day on Nov 20.

The event, also marked 36 years since the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was launched and 35 years since the country 

entered it.

Speaking at the opening, UNICEF Representative Emma Brigham underscored the significance of listening to children and creating spaces where their perspectives matter.

“Participation is a right and when we listen to children, we make better decisions, ensure they are also heard and give them the space too,” she said adding the exhibition is a reminder that children are not just recipients of services or protection; they are thinkers, creators, partners, speakers and leaders in shaping the world around them.”

Little Amaya is an imaginary child, guiding visitors through a fantasy world where every right is felt, seen and experienced. She is also designed to inject life into child rights by way of playful, accessible and relatable manner.

The exhibition at Lotus Tower combines storytelling, movement and learning though games.

The exhibition enables children to explore protection, participation and expression engaging technology that evokes curiosity and communication.

Complementing this experience is a vibrant art exhibition featuring more than 200 self-portraits and creative pieces co-created by children from across Sri Lanka - from urban centres to rural estates, from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic backgrounds. The artwork emerged from workshops facilitated around the country, giving children the space and tools to express who they are, how they see themselves, and what matters to them.

The event also the participation of scores of school Children, Department of Probation and Child Care Services (DPCCS) and the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) along with senior officials from the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs (MoWCA).

Officials from the NCPA, DPCCS and MoWCA commented and commended this exhibition as a fine platform promoting awareness of child rights among families, educators, and the broader public, while also celebrating the power of children’s imagination and their ability to articulate their wishes and wants.