Saint Lucia has appointed its first cohort of Child Rights Ambassadors, building on a national agenda to strengthen how the views and experiences of children are reflected in policies and services affecting their safety, well-being and development.
A first for Saint Lucia, the Child Rights Ambassador Programme provides to children a clearer, more direct pathway for their concerns to be heard, understood and taken into account by child protection agencies and stakeholder institutions.
The programme was recently introduced by government at the inaugural National Child Rights Symposium, and is being implemented by the Department of Equity, Social Justice, Gender and Older Persons in collaboration with UNICEF. It supports Saint Lucia’s commitment under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to respect children’s right to express their views, and to have those views considered in matters affecting them.
“If we do not protect our children that we call the future, do you think, or do you foresee us having a future? Not at all. Therefore, we are committed to that kind of protection,” said Dr. Charmaine Hippolyte-Emmanuel, Permanent Secretary in the Department of Equity, Social Justice, Gender And Older Persons. “I encourage every child and young person to be a part of this conversation. It makes absolutely no sense to speak about you and you are not a part of the conversation.”
The 20 ambassadors, representing districts from across the island, will begin engaging with children and young people in their schools and communities. Their role includes raising awareness of child rights, listening to the concerns of peers and bringing those perspectives into discussions on child protection, education, health, justice and social services. Ambassadors were selected from student nominees, following an open invitation extended to all schools.
Recognizing distance, which affected full participation by schools in the southern districts during the first round, a follow-up phase will facilitate greater involvement.
In preparation for their responsibilities, the ambassadors completed a five-day training from July 6-10 in child rights, leadership, advocacy, and communication, with practical sessions in photography and visual storytelling.
UNICEF Partnerships (Advocacy) Officer, Joan Tull, emphasized the training as an essential part of equipping the ambassadors to represent their peers responsibly, communicate concerns clearly and point to both progress and gaps in the systems designed to protect children.
“Photography is a powerful way to stand up for your rights. By capturing images of your school, your community, your friendships or issues that affect children and young people, you can help raise awareness and encourage positive change. Your photos can highlight things that are working well and draw attention to areas where improvements are needed, helping to ensure that your voices are heard and your experiences are valued,” Tull stated.
The 2026 National Child Rights Symposium was held under the theme, “Every Right. Every Child. Every Opportunity.”