Superstar actress and humanitarian worker Angelina Jolie has praised the work of a teenage transgender activist from Merseyside.
Emily Waldron, 13, from Whiston, appeared with Jolie in a segment on The One Show on Thursday, September 2, to discuss her contribution to a book in collaboration with Amnesty International.
Jolie described the young contributors as 'extraordinary' adding the 13-year-old transgender activist 'taught her something'.
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The Amnesty International book 'Know Your Rights and Claim Them' written by Angelina Jolie in collaboration with human rights lawyer Geraldine Van Bueren features stories from children who have fought and campaigned for human rights.
It also includes guides for young activists with tips on what to do in crisis scenarios, such as if a young person is pepper sprayed at a protest or how to speak with law enforcement if they are challenged or arrested.
Emily Waldron, who runs a LGBT+ club at her school and collects LGBT+ books to distribute amongst schools and colleges across the country, is one of the children sharing her story in the book.
The 13-year-old said: "Four years ago when I was only starting to transition, I thought I was the only person like me."
Emily's mum Emma said: "She wanted everybody to know who she was so other transgender children don't have to feel the way that she felt."
On The One Show, Angelina Jolie met with presenter Angellica Bell, Emily, and free school meals campaigner Christine Adane via zoom.
There, Emily told Jolie: "As you may or may not know, I am transgender."
"I've been working on collecting LGBT+ books for schools and charities."
Jolie said to the young activist: "Emily, you've taught me something.
"I honestly haven't really checked the libraries specifically for representation, and I'm gonna do that as soon as we get off this call."
Jolie, who works with humanitarian causes to campaign for children's rights and welfare, said Emily and other children's contributions to the book will help children understand their rights.
She told Amnesty International: "It isn't just that children need to know about their rights and people need to know their rights.
"It's that we do know. We do know what is absolutely healthy and decent and fair for a child.
"There is intent to silence children.
"There is intent to control children, there is intent to turn a blind eye and allow others to harm children.
"So It's not this beautiful thing of wanting to just appreciate and love your rights.
"It's about understanding its a fight.
"And children have been under attack for a very long time."
Emily's mum Emma spoke about how proud she is of her daughter for the work she has been doing to make the world a more accepting place for young LGBT+ people.
She said: "I'm always proud of Emily but today it's off the scale."
However, Emily's wonderful activism work was met with backlash from critics who disagreed with her.
Emma responded to the critics: "She gives up a lot of her own free time, time she could be spending being a kid and enjoying life.
She continued: "She doesn't receive money for what she does and doesn't expect to.
"What she does get out of campaigning, well knowing that she is doing the right thing and doing her part to make the world a better place is the biggest of many reasons.
"Her triumphs and accomplishments don't just benefit her. She doesn't do any of this solely for her own benefit."
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