When Rebecca's first image was published in Word, it was her first step as an illustrator. And she was nervous.
But the drawing showing unaccompanied minor Naima standing between damaged Somali buildings and Upsalian landmarks turned out to be the start of a long-lasting collaboration between Rebecca Karlén and the Ombudsman for Children.
I hope that the pictures will help to increase understanding, and that children will be able to recognise the rights themselves from the pictures.
- From the beginning, I hadn't done many illustrations and didn't know what I was doing at all. Maybe there's a reason why the first images aren't used that much... The later ones are cleaner and easier to use in different contexts.
When Rebecca was hired as a freelance illustrator after graduation, the Ombudsman began to use images more consciously and consistently in information material and PR. The images are usually created in collaboration between Rebecca and employees at the Ombudsman.
The many illustrations in the Child Rights for All project were also created in dialogue with reference groups of children and young people.
- The more things we have done, the easier it has become to come up with ideas for making new pictures. It's rarely just me who comes up with what a picture should look like, but we do it together.
The fact that her partner is studying to be a pre-school teacher is a plus:
- We can think a lot together and discuss whether a five-year-old will be able to understand a picture or not. Some rights are quite abstract, like ”the best interests of the child”. Having the right to play is immediately understood, but the best interests of the child is difficult to grasp even in text.
As a side effect, Rebecca has learnt a lot about child law.
- It's something I didn't think about at all before. Sometimes it's so depressing that it's such basic stuff that people still can't follow.
- I hope that the pictures will help to increase understanding, and that children will be able to recognise the rights themselves from the pictures. The best part is that it feels like I'm doing something important.
Text from the book ”Forward - a book looking back: 30 years of children's rights in Uppsala”
Forward - a book that looks backwards. 30 years of child rights in Uppsala.
Med Forward - a book that looks backwards. 30 years of child rights in Uppsalawe want to tell you about what we do and have done, but also inspire and encourage the creation of more local children's centres around Sweden.
The printed book is out of stock. You will receive a pdf.