Delhi-based human rights campaigner Ayush Chopra (15) was the youngest Indian representative-invitee at the 14th International Human Rights (IHR) Summit staged from August 24-26 at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York. The summit is organised annually by the Los Angeles-based not-for-profit Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI, estb.2001).

An age exception was specially made by the YHRI jury for this class X student of the national capital’s Top 10 ranked Ahlcon International School, who also bagged an all-expenses paid opportunity to address a gathering of luminaries including 41 youth delegates. Ayush impressed the jury with a 500-word pictorial essay on his personal human rights mission which he attached to his participation application form posted online by YHRI.

Supported by the California-based Church of Scientology, YHRI’s goal is to “educate youth around the globe about 30 human rights” specified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948 and “develop their human rights advocacy skills”. 

Ayush is also the founder of a twitter online community @SDGs for children which reminds the public of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN in 2015 with a 2030 deadline. Moreover he is one of 55 ambassadors of the first group of ambassadors for the teachSDGs project, initiated by the Global Goals Education Task Force, a volunteers-based worldwide network of teachers established this year. 

The elder child of Jyoti, director (IT) of a private trading firm, and Hemant Chopra, scientist at the National Informatics Centre, Ayush is also a national-level squash player who juggles on-court practice sessions, academics and awareness campaigns on digital media platforms.

Currently focussed on his CBSE class X board examinations due in March next year, this 15-year-old is determined to work towards creating a better world with engaged and well-informed global citizens. “After completing my Plus Two, I plan to write the entrance exam of the IITs. Meanwhile, I will continue using social media to draw attention to the neglect of children by the State and society,” he vows. 

Way to go, bro!

Swati Roy (Delhi)