Children’s Rights

Rebecca K. FrakerNAD Teacher Bulletin Volume 13

Who is a child?

In many places people who are just young teenagers work, drive cars, get married, and have children of their own.

However, a person is still considered a “child” if he or she is under the age of 18.

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Although the world had passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, many people felt that children needed to be protected in a special way.

The United Nations held a Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.

Many nations have signed this list of Rights of the Child.

You have the right to live.

And the right to be yourself. You are unique.

You should not be forced to be just like the neighbor’s child or just like your sister.

You have the right to be with your family.

No one should take you away from your family unless there are very very good reasons.

You have a right to a decent home.

It may be made of brick or bamboo or mud or be in the country or a city building. But it should be safe, and provide shelter from the weather.

You have the right to speak.

You have the right to speak for yourself, have your own thoughts and opinions, and express those.

Your parents, however, have the right to be treated respectfully.

You have a right to information that will help

you.Your parents or teachers may, however, limit

information if they feel it is harmful for you.

Those areas of limitation may be violent, dangerous, or pornographic.

You should be protected from cruel punishment.

That does not mean that your parent does not have the right to discipline you.

It does mean that you should not be beaten, burned, or injured.

You have the right to good health care.

Caretakers should not ignore your broken foot or let you suffer a long time before they get health care for you.

If you have special needs, you have a right to special

care.You should be able to get the medical help

needed, and assistance such as help in getting places, special instruction if you are blind or deaf, training to get around your limitations.

You have the right to have your basic needs

met.Those include food, water, adequate clothing

and housing.

While you have the right to have NEEDS met, that does not mean parents need to provide all of your WANTS.

You have a right to an education.

This should be free at least through the elementary levels.

You should be able to get this whether you are a boy or girl, and no matter what race or color or religion you may be.

You have a right to your own culture, language, and

religion.Even if most of the people in your town are

one culture, you have a right to your own.

You should be able to practice any religion.

Even though you may learn another language in a new place, you still have the right to speak your own language at home and to other people

You have the right to rest and the right to have fun

sometimes.You are still a child, and children need play

times.

The older you get, the more school work or chores you may have.

However, you should have some time to relax and play.

You have the right to be protected from exploitation.

Adults do not have the right to use you to make money for them or entertain them.

No one has the right to sell you or buy you as a

slave.

No one has the right to make you be a soldier if you are

younger than 16.

No one has the right to make you marry.

No one has the right to force you to marry or have sex.

No one has the right to choose your marriage partner. They may certainly have advice and give guidance, but the final choice should be yours.

What other rights do you think that children should

have?You have some basic rights as a child.

But all rights have some limits.

You may have a right to have food, but your brother also has that right. That means you should not steal from him to get your food.

It means your parents have the right to say, “An iPad is NOT a need. You can live quite well without one.”

It means your parents can say “This is the best home that we can afford. We will keep it clean, dry, and warm even though it is small. But you must help to keep it that way.

Protecting Your Rights

As you grow older, try to live your life so that you always give others their rights. Many children can help others even if is in a small way like sharing their food.

Tell a responsible adult if you are being deprived of your rights.

Tell a responsible adult if you see others being deprive of their rights.

More information

More detailed information on the Convention on the Rights of the Child can be found at:

http://www.unicef.org/crc/

Many countries of the world have developed programs and materials related to this subject. This material can be found many places on the web.