The Attorney General and education charity Cumberland Lodge brought together 50 young people to discuss how human rights protect and benefit people today and in the future.
The event, Understanding Human Rights: A Future Rights Manifesto, invited students and young leaders from schools and youth organisations to explore the laws, principles and everyday realities that shape human rights in the United Kingdom and beyond.
Through interactive workshops, debate and creative reflection, participants were encouraged to look at the existing human rights framework, understand how it works, and imagine how it could evolve to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Their ideas will help shape a new learning resource, The Future Rights Manifesto, created by Cumberland Lodge and due to be released in January 2026. The guide will be available for schools and youth organisations around the country to spark conversations about rights, responsibilities and democracy.
The workshop formed part of Cumberland Lodge’s ongoing partnership with the Attorney General to build young people’s confidence in understanding the law and its importance in everyday life.
It follows the successful launch earlier this year of the Magna Carta Facilitation Guide, which helps teachers and youth workers introduce the principles of the Rule of Law in accessible and engaging ways.
During a question-and-answer session, the Attorney General heard directly from young people about their priorities and concerns and discussed how the law protects fundamental rights and freedoms.
The Attorney General, Lord Hermer KC, said:
“It was a privilege to meet such insightful and engaging young people at Cumberland Lodge. Their questions demonstrated a real understanding of how human rights positively impact their daily lives and their communities.
“Human rights and the rule of law are fundamental to our democracy. Hearing directly from the next generation about their priorities and concerns helps ensure that our legal framework continues to serve everyone in society. I’m grateful to Cumberland Lodge for their important work in bringing these conversations to young people across the country.”
Professor Melissa Butcher, Programme Director at Cumberland Lodge, said:
‘Our work with the Attorney General’s Office continues to show what happens when young people are trusted to think critically and creatively about the world they live in.
At Cumberland Lodge, we are passionate about empowering the next generation of leaders with the skills for dialogue, critical thinking and empathy that sustains our society and democracy. The young people today reminded us that when they have space to listen and be heard, they can re-imagine complex ideas like human rights with both courage and compassion.’