A large, colourful trailer will be touring Malta's primary schools to educate children about their fundamental rights.

Children will be invited to hop inside the 52-foot trailer where they will be shown a short educational documentary to promote their rights, which include the right to have their say.

The two-week educational campaign, which starts on Monday, is organised by the Children's Commissioner to mark World Children's Day on November 20 and the 20th anniversary of the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child signed in 1989.

The Ġuġinu Tour, named after the lion mascot of the commission, was aimed at familiarising children and young people with the important rights granted to them under the convention in a child-friendly way, Children's Commissioner Carmen Zammit said during its launch.

For the purposes of the campaign, she explained, five rights were being focused on as the most relevant to children in Malta: their rights to play, health, education, family and to voice their opinions.

While issues such as child abduction, labour and poverty were not so relevant to Malta, there was still the need to raise awareness on the basic rights of children.

"We need to help parents and children understand that children have a right to have their voice heard on several issues including cases of separation," Ms Zammit said.

Social Policy Minister John Dalli said children's rights should not only depend on what was listed in the convention. Children's rights were natural and existed before the convention was drafted, he said, adding it was the adults' duty to ensure these rights were respected.

The Ġuġinu Tour will run until December 1. The trailer will visit some primary schools during the week. On weekdays it will stop at several public places. On November 21, it will be at the Qormi market, on November 22 outside The Palace in Valletta, on November 28 in Nadur and on November 29 at the Ta' Qali National Park.

Children have a right to:

• Be protected by their government from all forms of abuse.

• Live with their parents unless it is bad for them.

• Be listened to by adults making decisions that affect them.

• Freedom of thought, science and religion.

• Access to information that is important to their health and well-being.

• Protection from all forms of violence.

• Special care if they have a disability.

• An adequate standard of living.

• Free primary education to develop their talents and personalities.

• Relax and play.

• Be informed about their rights.