The first ‘Road to Rights’ Bus Tour is set to embark on an impactful week-long journey, visiting five key locations across Northern Ireland starting on Monday 18th November.
During the week-long event, young people throughout Northern Ireland will be given a platform to speak about the issues that are important to them, learn more about their rights and share their perspectives and ideas on the future of public transport, climate change and other issues they feel need to be addressed.
The Roadshows will be designed to give young people the opportunity to take part in a variety of workshops designed by the Translink Youth Forum (TYF) and the NICCY Youth Panel (NYP).
Commencing on 18 November, the ‘Road to Rights’ bus tour will visit Newry, Enniskillen, Derry~Londonderry, Magherafelt and Belfast, with school pupils and youth organisations among those invited to take part.
Children’s Commissioner Chris Quinn said: “We can’t wait to welcome children and young people to the Road to Rights Bus Tour. This marks the start of our journey towards incorporating children’s rights into domestic law.
“Fittingly coinciding with World Children’s Day on 20th November, we’ll be calling on Government to incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into NI law.
“It’s fantastic to work in partnership with NIYF and Translink as we launch our awareness campaign as to why this is such a crucial issue.
“We’ll be hosting a series of interactive events and visits, giving children and young people a platform to discuss the issues they care about the most. The journey towards incorporation starts now.”
Eden Byrne, a member of the NICCY Youth Panel, added: “It’s important to listen to the voices of young people because we often don’t get the opportunity to have our say on issues that are important to us and will affect us.
“We are passionate and want to make change for a better future.”
Paul Dynes, Director of Northern Ireland Youth Forum, said: “The Northern Ireland Youth Forum is delighted to be working alongside NICCY and Translink on the delivery of the Roadshows. We see this as an excellent opportunity for young people across NI to have their voices heard on transport, climate, and safety.
“Transport can often be a barrier to youth participation, something young people are keen to address. Young people from Translink Youth Forum and NICCY Youth Panel have been at the forefront of designing the roadshows. We look forward to listening and learning from young people as they provide a voice in shaping the future of our transport service.”
Chris Conway, Translink Group Chief Executive, added: “Young people are tomorrow’s leaders, and this generation is more climate-conscious than any before. “More and more young people are already switching to bus and train with a 60% increase in the use of yLink over the last year this modal shift trend is vital and a simple way individuals can reduce their carbon footprint.
“Translink is also playing its part by working to decarbonise our business, introducing more zero-emission buses regionally and in Belfast, where soon 50% of the fleet will operate with cleaner, carbon-free vehicles.”
