Fridays for Future and Children's Rights

Since its emergence in 2018, the Fridays for Future movement (FFF) has grappled with issues of climate justice for current and future generations. This study connects FFF with discourses around the rights of children and young people, aiming to place young people's views at the centre of the research and shed light on this as-yet widely unresearched topic. Through qualitative research with young people involved in FFF, the study broaches topics such as intergenerational justice, civil disobedience and political participation rights. The results highlight the necessity of collective responsibility for the future of FFF, along with participants' wishes to be more included in the political debate.

Born in Nottingham (UK) in 1988, Marianne Greenwell has spent much of her life working with children and young people, first encountering the field through work in schools and recreational clubs as a young person herself. After graduating with a BA (Hons) in German Studies and Media from the University of Brighton in 2011, her language skills led her to Berlin where, after a period of voluntary service, she began working in the area of circus pedagogy as a freelance circus trainer for children and young people. Marianne's circus practice involved working with children and young people of all ages - as well as adults - in a variety of different social, cultural and professional contexts. She has worked with a great number of different circus organisations including the social circus division of Cirque du Soleil, and Cirque du Monde. Marianne's work in the circus sector led her in 2017 to undertake a Master's programme in Childhood Studies and Children's Rights. During her time in the programme she explored many different areas of children's rights, developing a particular interest in topics connected to children and young people's voice, political participation rights, and children's rights in relation to education and schooling. Marianne Greenwell graduated in the summer of 2019 and currently lives with her wife in Berlin.