On May 27 2025, the OSCE Academy hosted the first session of the Children’s Rights Book Club, launched as part of a broader project to promote children’s rights through literature with support from the Global Campus of Human Rights and Right Livelihood Foundation. The participants were members of the Child Leadership Team, a group of motivated teenagers committed to learning about and advocating for children’s rights.
The book club is a monthly series of themed sessions where participants explore key social issues through reading, discussion, and creative activities. The project aims to foster a love of reading while encouraging young people to think critically about real-world challenges and become active voices in their communities.
The theme of the first session was child labor, explored and presented by Nazgul Kadyrova, lead facilitator on the Children’s Book Club through the powerful book Iqbal by Francesco D’Adamo – a moving story of a brave boy who stood up against exploitation. Participants engaged in a lively discussion, shared personal reflections, and actively took part in interactive tasks. These activities helped them to better understand the challenges faced by millions of children worldwide.
The book club will continue with a series of upcoming sessions, each focused on a different theme such as:
1. Right to Education
2. War and Displacement
3. Freedom of Expression
4. Final Session and Student Presentations
The next meeting is scheduled for the end of June. Then participants will discuss the topic of the right to education and explore it through a new book and a set of creative tasks. At the end of the full series, participants who actively take part will receive certificates of participation, recognizing their engagement and growing knowledge of children’s rights.
The Book Club is a vital educational initiative that empowers youth to think deeply, speak confidently, and care more profoundly about justice, equality, and the rights of all children.
