A YOUNG campaigner from York has scooped a prestigious award for her work putting human rights at the heart of policies and decision-making in the city.

Cecile Lansford, 13, from Acomb, has won a Liberty Human Rights Award in the Young Person of the Year category in recognition of her tireless work promoting human rights and educating others about how they can defend and protect them.

Her award was presented by women’s rights campaigner and journalist Caroline Criado-Perez at a ceremony at London’s Royal Court Theatre.

The Manor CE Academy Year 9 student works with York Human Right City Network to ensure people’s rights are considered in all of York’s laws, policies and decision-making.

She has organised events at her school and at York Library, and spoke at the 2017 Equality and Human Rights Commission Wales conference.

Cecile is determined to inspire others through her work in York. She wants to see human rights added to the national curriculum to empower future generations and leaders to make positive change.

She said: “Human rights often seem very far away, and bringing them into education helps to localise them. That is my goal.”

She was nominated by the public, and was shortlisted for the award alongside Girlguiding’s Advocates, whose Girls Matter campaign helped change the law to make Sex and Relationship Education compulsory in all schools in England, and My Life My Say, who work to engage more young people in politics and secure the best possible Brexit for young people.