TWO Windygoul Primary School pupils became the youngest ever children to take part in a United Nations Children’s Advisory Team.

Hannah Richardson and Cameron Butchart, both 11, travelled to Geneva, Switzerland, at the weekend to join three days of workshops to promote children’s rights as part of the UN’s preparations for a Rights of the Child Day in September.

They were the only representatives from the UK on the team, which was made up of youth representatives from across the world.

Both Hannah and Cameron are members of the Children’s Parliament for East Lothian and were involved in the Tranent StreetsAhead Mural project, which brought together the aspirations of young people living in the Fa’side ward.

The mural has already visited Geneva, where it drew crowds when it was unveiled in September 2016 when the UN held its annual Day of General Discussion on children’s rights.

Two years on, Hannah and Cameron are keen to ensure they help shape the discussions at this year’s debate, drawing on their experience of the impact of the mural and its idea, which is now on permanent display at Ross High School.

This year’s theme for the day of discussion is Children as Human Rights Defenders.

Hannah was clear that children must be a key part of the UN’s work on children’s rights. She said: “It’s the children’s Day of General Discussion so children should be involved. It would be weird if they were improving children’s rights without children being involved.”

Supported by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner, East Lothian Council and Children’s Parliament, Hannah and Cameron are teaming up with other children from East Lothian to co-design and deliver a series of workshops across Scotland to explore their views on what human rights need to be defended in Scotland and what support children might need to become a Human Rights Defender.

The workshops will take place in Benbecula, Inverness, Blairgowrie, Edinburgh and Tranent.

The children will work with artists to create an installation featuring five giant ‘shields’ which will reflect the key important messages children wish to share about children’s human rights.

They will return to Geneva to present Scotland’s national priorities on Children as Human Rights Defenders to international stakeholders and children from across the world participating in the Day of General Discussion on September 28 in Geneva.

And they are due to attend the 2019 Scottish Cabinet Meeting to report back on their experiences.