What are rights?
Human
rights are those basic standards without which people cannot
live in dignity. To violate someone’s human rights is to
treat that person as though she or he were not a human being.
To advocate human rights is to demand that the human dignity
of all
people be respected.
Why do we need rights?
We all need rights, they ensure we survive, develop
and they protect us. Rights are also about having the opportunity
to be involved
and included on matters that affect us. Rights ensure that everybody
is
treated equally and fairly. Sadly not everyone around the world
has their human rights respected. Rights are the foundation of
democratic
society.
Did you know that there is a special set of rights for children
and young people across the globe?
This set of rights is for children and young people
(up to 18 years old). It is called the 'United Nations Convention
on the
Rights of
the Child'. On the 20th November 1989, the United Nations (UN)
approved the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is now
an international
agreement that countries sign up to obey. Once countries ratify
(agree to uphold) the convention they are legally bound to
what it says.
So what does the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
say?
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has 54 articles.
Each article outlines a different right. They cover four
different groupings
of rights; survival, protection, development and participation.
For example Article 28 says you have a right to an education,
which group
do you think it falls into? Articles 43-54 are about how
adults should work together to make sure all children and young
people
have their
rights met.
To find out more about Children’s Rights you can visit:
http://www.therightssite.org.uk/
