Fiction has real power to further human rights education. A well-stocked class library is an instant and constant resource for raising human rights subjects, providing openings for teachers and children to explore and frame issues in new and interesting ways. Books allow the language of human rights to permeate the school environment. More than this, novels and picture books can be invaluable in establishing emotional distance from a topic, making difficult or sensitive subjects much more approachable. It is much easier and less threatening for a child to talk about a character in a book than it is to talk directly about their own feelings.
