Lalitha and Babu: A handbook for discussion leaders

Children’s rights and their opinions are often not heard and prioritized in families, societies, communities and states. Lalitha and Babu wants to offer children information about their rights and tools to generate adequate knowledge and put them into practice. Discrimination exists in all societies at different levels and in varied contexts, for example age, sex, gender, race, sexuality, sexual orientation, class, caste, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and ability. In our deep-rooted patriarchal societies, girls and boys often suffer in the existing unjust power structures – children and young people are subordinate to adults, women are subordinate to men and some men are also subordinate to other men.

Therefore, there is a real need among children and young people to discuss important issues surrounding demystifying gender discrimination and its root causes, strengthen their self-esteem, make them aware of their rights, and become active agents of change. The Lalitha and Babu method gives children and young people the possibility to reflect upon their own opinions and identity as well as to discuss their rights. In Lalitha and Babu, children and young people are listened to by young people who take them and their opinions seriously and respectfully. The Lalitha and Babu method is based on the founding principles of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and intends to make children aware of gender discrimination by adopting a perspective based on equality, justice, and rights.

This handbook is a guide for Discussion Leaders who offer children information and the tools to put knowledge into practice confidently.