A GUTSY 12-year-old with special needs has been chosen to speak at a United Nations meeting in Geneva next month.
Nathan Giles, from Shirley, has cerebral palsy and will be addressing a pre-sessional meeting of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on June 11.
He was selected from a dozen candidates and will be one of two delegates to speak in front of 18 officials in the Swiss city.
The youngster is no stranger to the limelight.
At the tender age of ten he was inspired to fight for the cause of children and disabled rights after watching a television report where former Prime
Minister Tony Blair lifted a disabled girl out of a wheelchair and carried her into No. 10 Downing Street.
Angered by the lack of disabled access to the famous address, he wrote a letter to the PM calling for action on the issue.
He later helped the charity Scope to present a petition of 250,000 signatures to Downing Street calling for equal rights for all. He was accompanied on his trip by Solihull MP Lorely Burt.
Mrs Burt has praised the young campaigner's efforts.
"He 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."
Nathan will be attending the event along with his parents Donna and Andre Giles.
Mrs Giles, said: "We are very proud of Nathan and excited about going to Geneva. It is a great opportunity for him and one that not many children get and he is really pleased to be representing 11 million young people as a disabled child."
Nathan is hoping to pursue a career in politics as an MP when he is older and names William Wilberforce, the anti-slavery campaigner, as his hero. ..SUPL:
