“Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world”
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights UK and Curious Minds are proud to present the inaugural Greater Manchester Poetic Declaration of Human Rights.
It is inspired by The Universal Poetic Declaration of Human Rights - a unique body of work commissioned by Robert F Kennedy Human Rights UK and led by UK Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage. It saw poets from around the world write poems for each of the Articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
This Declaration has been created by young people from primary, secondary and SEN schools across Greater Manchester - each of whom wrote their own poems in response to the 30 Articles of the UDHR.
The Greater Manchester Poetic Declaration of Human Rights is a powerful statement and vision of the future the young people of Greater Manchester want to build.
OUR PARTNERS
Curious Minds is a leading charity which works to make high quality creative and cultural learning opportunities available to all children and young people, wherever they live and whatever their circumstance.
We do this by connecting teachers, youth workers and community leaders with artists and creative professionals; giving them access to information, expertise, space and resources to facilitate collaboration and innovation in the field of creative and cultural education.
EVENT PARTNERS
PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERS
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
The Poetic Universal Declaration of Human Rights programme is being created by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights UK. We exist to inspire and empower people to make decisions and take actions every day that will help make human rights reality for all - to become ripples of hope in their communities and across the world.
In 1968, Robert F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for the Presidency of the United States. His campaign called on us to envision and work for a world in which the dignity of every human being is honoured and respected; in which we value one another and realise our own power to shape the future.
We are at a critical moment in British and global history. We need to nurture a culture that is built on our shared humanity.
The universal concept of human rights that Robert F. Kennedy championed is essential to that effort.
Human rights – the best articulation and codification humanity has ever found for the fundamental interests of people – set out what society should deliver for people and can be a guide to be used and acted on in everyday decision-making, until they are made a reality for all.
And yet, we know that for many in the UK, human rights feel remote – they are for others but not for me. Demonstrating the relevance and importance of human rights is the challenge in front of us.
And so we deliver artistic, educational and cultural programmes that tell a relevant, local story of human rights and celebrate the countless organisations that do the incredible work of making human rights a reality to inspire and build long-term cultural change.
AFFILIATION: We are proud and honoured to be affiliated to, and be building on the work of, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights in the US, which is led by Kerry Kennedy and was founded after Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign in 1968 by his family and friends as a means to dedicate themselves to a common goal: achieving Bobby’s dream of a more just and peaceful world.
THE ORGANISATION: Founded in June 2018, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights UK is incorporated in the UK as a limited company (11397556) and registered with the Charity Commission of England & Wales (1181744).
ABOUT
ROBERT F. KENNEDY HUMAN RIGHTS UK
OUR PATRONS
Baroness Ruth Davidson
Baroness Helena Kennedy
Lord Rumi Verjee
OUR BOARD
Dr Mark Ellis
Kerry Kennedy
Eric Levine
Paul Lindley OBE (Chair)
Patricia McCall
Hina Patel
Stella Smith
Peter Thompson
Nizam Uddin OBE
Andrew Wincel