A Rights Based Approach to Youth Information

Rights

• What are human rights?

• Why children’s rights?

The UNCRC

• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

• Adopted by the UN in 1989

• Adopted by all except 2 countries in UN

• Contains 54 Articles

“The UNCRC intends to ensure that children and young people grow up in a safe, healthy world where they can participate freely and realise their potential”

UNICEF

Youth Information

• Directly linking Articles to Information and Advice

• How do we support children and young people to access entitlements?

Article 13

• Children have the right to get and share information as long as the information is not damaging to them or to others

Article 12

• Children have the right to say what they think should happen, when adults are making decisions that affect them, and to have their opinions taken into account. – This is a gateway right, without which it would

be more difficult to access their other rights– Article 12 incorporates the principles and

practice of participation

The UNCRC in Wales

• 2001 - Introduction of first Children’s Commissioner in UK

• 2002 – Extending Entitlement• 2004 (Children Act) – Welsh Government

adopted UNCRC as a basis for all policy for children

• Seven Core Aims – based on UNCRC• 2011 - Children’s Rights Measure (Ministers

must pay due regard to UNCRC in all decisions)

The UNCRC

• Rights into Action

Implementing the right to Education

• Government – obligation to define policy, find and allocate resources, ensure progress against targets is achieved.

• Institutions – obligation to train staff, organise resources, create child friendly environment.

• Educators – obligation to teach well, encourage children to learn and access their rights.

Rights into law – sexual health

• Young people have the right to access a full range of contraceptive services.

• Fraser Guidelines apply in cases where the young people are under 16

• Sexual and reproductive health services for young people must be: – confidential – accessible – free from judgement – offer a complete range of services

Adopting a rights-based approach to youth work

• The UNCRC is relevant to our youth work practice

• Access to information and advice underpins all four pillars of the youth work curriculum statement for Wales

Adopting a rights-based approach to youth work (cont’d)

• Article 15 – the right to meet with other children and join and form associations

• Article 29 – the right to an education which prepares her/him for an active, responsible life as an adult in a free society which respects others and the environment

• Article 31 - the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and to participate in educational, cultural and artistic activities.

• Article 34 - the right to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.

Rights-based activities for youth workers

• Make sure young people are aware of their rights and how to access them (Article 42)

• Young people have a say in all decisions affecting them (Article 12) – encourage young people to become part of a forum

• Agored Cymru Level 1 Children’s Rights & Citizenship

Moving forward

• What are the problems associated with effective access to information and advice?

• How do we put young people at the heart of defining what information and advice they require?

• What formats are relevant to young people today?

Moving forward

• Does anything change for young people?

• How do we know change is happening?

• How do we engage young people in driving that change?

• Is it any easier to access services, or to get the right support to access them?

Moving forward

• What are the impacts and outcomes for young people?

• You may not see the fruits of youth information work immediately.

• Importance of the integrity of this work and to ensure that both they and you are satisfied with the outcomes of the process to date.

Moving forward

• What is understood by young people’s involvement in development of information and advice services?

Messages from young people

• “Don’t just listen – do something!”

Want to know more? Here are some websites worth visiting

UNCRC Lets Get It Right www.uncrcletsgetitright.co.uk

CLICwww.cliconline.co.uk

Children’s Commissioner www.childcomwales.org.uk