A TEENAGER visited 10 Downing Street to raise awareness of children’s rights on behalf of all young people.

Claire Lyons, 17, from Prescot, delivered messages written on footprints from 3,500 youngsters across the country telling Prime Minister David Cameron why their rights are important to them.

The trip marked the start of a year of action on children’s rights.

Claire and Christopher Browne, 17, joined a group of 17 young people visiting the seat of power.

Claire said: “We don’t want to feel voiceless just because we are young. We shouldn’t have to defend our rights.

“We want adults to take responsibility and be as passionate as we are about having and respecting children’s rights.

“My message to David Cameron is…I have a right to be heard and to know my rights are being taken seriously by him, the government and adults.

I have the right to go out and socialise with my friends without the fear of being stopped and seen as a gang.

“We shouldn’t be seen as problems to be fixed because it’s unfair. We are coming up with good ideas that can help things get better for everyone, not just children.

“It was exciting to go to Downing Street and I feel really proud to have handed in thousands of children’s footprints.

“This will show the Government that children’s rights are important to us. We deserve to know about our rights and to feel that adults are doing the best they can for us.”

The children’s messages were received 20 years after the UK made a legally binding agreement with the United Nations to uphold the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The treaty requires that children be respected as human beings with views, feelings and ideas of their own.