Childrens Rights

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• Childrens Rights

November 16, 2009
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• What are Human Rights?
• Fundamental rights that belong to every person
• Based on the principle that every human being is
  born equal in dignity and rights
• All human rights are equally important and they
  cannot be taken away under any circumstances
• Purpose of Human Rights
• Protect our right to live in dignity
• Tool to protect people from violence and abuse
• Foster mutual respect among people
• What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
  (UDHR)?
• Founding document of human rights, adopted in
  1948 by the United Nations
• Stands as a common reference and sets common
  standards of achievement in human rights
• Does not have force of law, but its principles
  have become international standards worldwide
• What is human dignity?
• Fundamental principle of human rights all
  individual deserve respect

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• Childrens Rights
• What are the rights of the child?
• Specific rights that aim to protect all human
  beings younger than 18 years old (unless the laws
  of a particular country set the age of majority
  at a younger age)
• What is the purpose of having childrens rights?
• Ensure that each child has the opportunity to
  reach their full potential
• Protect children from violence and abuse
• Foster mutual respect among people

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Convention on the Rights of The Child
that luminous living document that enshrines
the rights of every child without exception to a
life of dignity and self-fulfillment - Nelson
Mandela, 6 May 2000, statement on Building a
Global Partnership for Children, Johannesburg

• Adopted by the United Nation General Assembly on
  20 November 1989
• Ratified by 193 countries (exceptions USA and
  Somalia)
• CRC guarantees a full spectrum of universal
  rights of children 2.2 billion children live in
  countries that have ratified it

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CRC Why is it important?

• Children only marginally included in general
  human rights instruments questions age-based
  exclusion
• Recognizes childrens status vulnerability,
  special interests and special entitlements
• Addresses all issues that affect children in one
  integrated framework
• Alters the approach to childrens well-being from
  being objects of development to subjects of
  development i.e. participants
• Sets clear universal standards and principles
• Sets accountability mechanisms

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CRC Standards Principles

• Standards are minimum/acceptable goals or
  outcomes
• Principles represent necessary criteria/conditions
  /approaches that make it possible to achieve the
  goals and outcomes
• To ensure childrens rights standards and
  principles are equally important!
• The CRC has four core principles. It specifically
  affirms every childs
• Right to be treated equally non-discrimination
• Right to life, survival and development
• Devotion to the best interest of the child
• Respect for the views of the child
  participation.

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CRC Principles

• Survival and development
• Addresses issue of accessibility
• Seeks to guarantee right to basic services
• Promotes equity of opportunity for all children
  to achieve full development
• Equality and non-discrimination
• All children have the same right to develop their
  potential
• No distinction, restriction and exclusion of any
  child

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CRC Principles Best Interest

• What are childrens interests?
• As individuals with full human rights like any
  adult
• As future adults requiring special entitlements
  to give them a chance to develop to their full
  potential
• As children with current needs and interests
  (play, recreation, be cared for, protection from
  abuse and neglect etc.)

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CRC Principles Participation

• All children are contributing members of society
  and provide a unique perspective on issues
• Their involvement strengthens democracy
• Develops capacity from a young age
• Recognizes children of different ages and from
  different contexts have different levels of
  ability recognizes competence in degrees
• Nurtures energy and creativity
• Provides required support to allow children and
  young people to participate meaningfully

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Why is it important to educate children about
Human Rights?

• Because its their right!
• Children have the right to know their rights and
  adults have the responsibility to ensure that
  children are informed and can exercise their
  rights.
• To increase respect for human rights
• Knowing about your rights is the first step in
  promoting greater respect for human rights.
• Because human rights values are universally
  recognized
• Provides a clear framework for evaluating when
  and how to intervene to prevent certain
  behaviours.
• To encourage the development of self-esteem and
  active participation
• Children recognize their own importance as human
  beings and realize that what they live, think and
  feel has value.
• Encourage children to see that they can make a
  positive contribution and to become more
  involved.
• To reinforce positive behaviours
• Through critical reflection and increased
  responsibility, they are encouraged to reflect on
  how they interact with others and how they can
  change.
• Children become more aware of the importance of
  respect, cooperation and inclusion, and how to
  put these values into practice into their daily
  lives.

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• Useful Links
• Child Rights Information Network (CRIN), Rights
• based programming resource page,
• http//www.crin.org/hrbap.
• C. Nyamu-Musembi, Towards an actor-oriented
  perspective on human rights, IDS working
  paper 169(Institute of Development Studies,
  October 2002), http//www.ids.ac.uk/ids/bookshop/w
  p/wp169.pdf.
• UNICEF, Rights and results, http//www.unicef.org/
  rightsresults/index_resources.html.
• Implementation Handbook for the Convention on the
  Rights of the Child http//www.unicef.ca/portal/Sm
  artDefault.aspx?at2056
• Children The Silenced Citizens and other Canada
  related information www.unicef.ca/18at18

• With thanks to
• Saadya Hamdani, UNICEF Canada
• Prof. Angela Campbell, McGill University

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