MP PRAISES SOLIHULL BOY ELECTED TO SPEAK AT UN IN GENEVA

7.34.49am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 20th May 2008

Lorely Burt MP has expressed her admiration and praise for a Solihull boy with special needs who has been chosen to speak at a United Nations meeting in Geneva.

Twelve year old Nathan Giles will speak on 11th June at a formal pre-sessional meeting of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, who are taking evidence for a report on children's rights in the UK due to be published in October.

The Langley school pupil is no stranger to the limelight, having been chosen at the age of ten to help present a petition of 250,000 signatures to No 10 calling for equal rights for all.

On top of his normal schoolwork, Nathan has been helping prepare a 'Get Ready for Geneva' report over the past year as part of a team with the Childrens Rights Alliance for England (CRAE).

He has been travelling the country with other young people to gather evidence and has taken part in focus groups and helped design website surveys for vulnerable groups of children.

Nathan will be accompanied by his mum and dad, Donna and Andre Giles, and was elected to speak from 12 children between the ages of 9yrs and 17yrs who will make up the delegation to Geneva.

Lorely Burt MP said:

"Nathan is a remarkable person who has a very bright future.

"He is absolutely committed to equal rights for all and will make a brilliant ambassador for young people in Britain when he speaks to the UN Committee.

"I wished him good luck, but he won't need it - his mum and dad will be more nervous than he is!"