Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go is a dystopian novel about a group of students who grow up in a chilling alternative reality. The story is narrated by a thirty-year-old Kathy who reflects on her time at Hailsham School and exposes the fate that awaits her, her close friends and the other students at the school. The novel follows the lives of Kathy, Ruth and Tommy once they leave the school and live out the rest of their lives: Ruth and Tommy as donors and Kathy as a carer. We learn the purpose of Hailsham School as well as why it is now closed, and that sadly love cannot save them from the fate that awaits them.
Though the story is complete fiction, portraying a very skewed version of society, it does illustrate the importance of human rights and personal autonomy (the ability to make your own decisions).
What message does the novel send?
Dystopian novels often send a message to readers, portraying a dark version of society as a warning of what life could look like, in this case, if our rights weren’t protected by law.
In this blog, I will draw on the characters’ lack of rights as a direct comparison to the rights you are entitled to. Unlike Kathy and her close friends, the government protects your human rights as a matter of law. It is important to know your rights; so you can be aware when they are being ignored or infringed.
What are your human rights?
All children in the UK have rights under both the Human Rights Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, also known as the UNCRC.
As a young person in Wales, you have added protection! Yay! Thanks to the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011, ministers in the Welsh Government also have a duty to consider the provisions in the UNCRC whenever they come up with new legislation for the country but also to ensure that people in Wales know about, understand and respect children’s and young people’s rights too.
Human rights in the novel (or lack of)
In the novel Never Let Me Go, Kathy and her friends’ rights are not offered such protection. Instead, Kathy reveals to us that their lives are completely out of their hands; their futures are already decided for them from an early age.
As the story progresses and we learn of the fate that awaits the characters, it slowly becomes clear what was always intended as their future. Though the students at Hailsham School are aware of what they’re destined for, it is only as the novel progresses and the characters form friendships and romantic bonds that they come to realise the unfairness of their situation.
Tommy, for example, feels cheated; frustrated; out of control and helpless as he prepares for his fourth donation. The characters in the novel have been stripped of their human rights: they have no autonomy over their future, their ‘lives are set out’.
Some of the Rights that are infringed in the novel, taken from UNCRC
Article 3- the best interests of a child must be a top priority in all decisions and actions affecting children.
Article 6- the right to survive and develop.
Article 12- the right to have your views heard and taken seriously.
Article 19- Protection from violence, abuse and neglect. In 2022, Wales joined more than 60 nations around the world to end physical punishment of children. This means that ANY form of physical punishment against children is illegal.
Article 28– Education. Schools should respect children’s dignity and rights.
Article 32- Every child has the right to be protected from any work that is dangerous, that interferes with their education or that is harmful to their health.
Think: in Never Let Me Go, in what ways are the characters denied these rights?
What if your rights are infringed?
There are no conditions to human rights; you are entitled to them from the second you are born, and nobody has the power to take them away from you.
If you share any of the emotions that the characters in Never Let Me Go experience: if you feel as though your future is out of your control or that anyone is forcing you to do anything you’re not comfortable with, they may be infringing on your human rights.
What can you do?
If you think your human rights are being infringed, you should never hesitate to reach out for help. The UNCRC entitles you to rights that should be protected by law.
If you’re interested to learn more about the rights you’re entitled to, check out this booklet.
For a poster of all your rights: click here. 
Who can you talk to?
Who can you talk to?Meic Cymru: call or WhatsApp 080880 23456 or start a live online chat
Samaritans: call 0116 123
Children’s Commissioner for Wales: 01792 765600
Barnardos: 029 2057 7074 or email cymru@barnardos.org.uk
About the author
I’m Anuraag Aulakh, a third-year law student at Swansea University. I am currently studying a module in human rights, so this project is a chance for me to extend my passion for the subject, with a focus on children’s rights. Many young people aren’t aware of their rights, so it is important we find ways to educate and empower them.
Thanks goes to Belinda Moseley of Gelards for proof checking this blog.