Only 42% of Britons think that the UK sets a ‘good example’ to the world in protecting children in war. That’s according to YouGov polling commissioned by Save the Children, which also shows that only half of us think that Britain has ‘some’ power to help protect children in conflict.
But here at Save the Children, we believe that Britain has the power to help children in conflict, and that when the UK does the right thing, other countries in the world sit up and take notice.
Here are four times when Britain has led the way and helped make the world better than it was…
The Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is one of the most important documents ever written. Its name means ‘Great Charter of Liberties’, and it was written to limit King John’s right to rule in 1215. Since then, its words have inspired people around the world and helped make the case for many freedoms we now benefit from, including the right to a fair trial, and pointed the way to the creating a parliament to represent people’s needs and views. Nelson Mandela even referred to the Magna Carta in his own trial as he campaigned to end Apartheid in South Africa.
The NHS
In another recent YouGov poll, the creation of the NHS came out as the top event that made people proud to be British. The NHS was the star of the opening of London’s 2012 Olympic games, and is quite rightly regarded as a national treasure, with 69% of Brits saying it makes them proud to be British. To this day, the NHS and its core principle of universal healthcare for all is copied all over the world.
The Rights of the Child
It was a Briton – Eglantyne Jebb, the founder of Save the Children – who wrote the very first ‘Declaration of the Rights of the Child’ in 1923. Since then, her Declaration influenced the creation of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, the most globally ratified Treaty in the world. The treaty gives every child key rights, including the right to education, the right to protection, and the right to a home, amongst many others. These rights, first laid out by Eglantyne, are now shared around the world, and people all over the globe fight to protect them every single day.
Our commitment to providing life-saving aid
Most recently, the UK Government enshrined in law a commitment to set aside 0.7% of our gross national income to providing life-saving aid to those who need it most. Since then, countries such as France and Ireland have committed to follow our lead, helping to tackle some of the most difficult situations facing people in the world today.
And what do all these things have in common?
People campaigned for them!
All these changes that Britain has made, and all the times these ideas have spread around the world, were because people spoke out and convinced those in charge to act – from the Barons of the Magna Carta speaking out against King John, to the British public who spoke out to convince the Government to enshrine 0.7% in law.
Which is what makes it so surprising that our survey found just 8% of people think they have an ‘important’ role to play in protecting children in war. We believe that everyone has a role to play – in fact, your role is absolutely vital!
One more thing Britain can do…
We know that Britain has an important role to play in protecting children in conflict. And we believe that if Britain steps up, the rest of the world will follow our example – just like they have countless times in the past.
That’s why we’re calling on the Government to come up with a plan to protect children in conflict by publishing a new Protection of Civilians Strategy.
We think that if Britain steps up, not only will it save children’s lives around the globe, it will convince other governments to do the same, and in turn protect the 420 million children worldwide affected by conflict today.
But we also know that the Government only steps up when its own people tell them to. It’s going to take all of us, speaking out and taking action all over the country to persuade the Government to act.
Over 60,000 people across the country have already made their voices heard on this issue – will you join them?
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