Hampshire Equality and Rights Advocates (EARA)
Hampshire Equality and Rights Advocates (EARA) are a group of students from secondary schools across the county who work collaboratively to promote equality and child rights in their schools, based on the nine protected characteristics of the Equality Act and the UNCRC. They present to students, teachers, governors and parents in their school communities and come together once a term to share their work and discuss ways forward. The group have designed a badge which unites them together.
PowerPoints and materials presented are circulated following the meeting and can be used by the network in their schools. For example, one school wanted to challenge the use of the word gay and also challenged staff to deal with any language if they hear it. They asked staff to sign a pledge. They are an active student voice group in their schools, which supports Article 12 of the UNCRC which says that children and young people have the human right to have opinions and for these opinions to matter.
The group also presented at the Rights Respecting Education Conference and the recent Anti-Bullying conference. The wish is to spread this initiative to a wider audience and include other secondary schools.
If you would like to become involved, please email:
- Minnie Moore – [email protected]
