Overlooked No More: Eglantyne Jebb, Who Started a Movement With Save the Children

Eglantyne Jebb, a British social reformer, co-founded the Save the Children organization in 1919 after being outraged by the British government's decision to block aid to children in several countries following World War I. Jebb and her sister, Dorothy Buxton, launched a campaign to raise funds and provide relief to these children. They argued that children should be protected regardless of their nationality or political affiliation. Jebb's efforts led to the creation of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which was adopted by the League of Nations in 1924. This document established the principle that children have unique needs and rights that must be protected. Jebb's work laid the foundation for the modern children's rights movement and the establishment of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. Despite facing opposition and criticism, Jebb's unwavering commitment to protecting children's welfare made her a pioneering figure in the field of humanitarian aid and children's rights.