United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989
IMPORTANT NEWS: Next year the Government will
be letting the United Nations Committee know how they are doing on the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Office of the Childrens
Rights Director will be doing a lot of work in this area and will be seeking
views from young people about this.
This Document was written by the Office
of the Childrens Rights Director. It explains :-
1 What the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child is and answers some common questions.
2
Tells you what YOUR rights are under the Convention.
3 Tells you what the
Childrens Rights Director will do.
11 WHAT is the United Nations Convention of the
Rights of the Child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
1989 (UNCRC) is an agreement by the governments of the world saying what rights
children should have. It covers rights on just about everything and applies to
everyone under 18 years of age.
Did the UK sign it?
Yes.
Nearly every country in the world has signed up and agreed to the UN Convention
on the Rights of the Child.
Do adults have to do what it
says?
They should always try to, but the law does not say that they
must.
What use is it then?
The Convention is important
because it acts as a guide on how children should be treated. It also helps that
each country that has signed it judges people from other countries on how well
they treat children.
Like most people, staff, social workers and teachers
would like to think that they do a good job in working with children. However,
inspectors and others could say that they are not, if they don't respect the
rights you have.
_____________
Mike
Lindsay
OCRD
1
Can you tell me some of my rights?
Not
all of the rights within the Convention will apply to you all of the time. But
we've put together those that we think could affect some of you.
22 Your
Rights under the Convention
You have the right to keep
in touch with your parents if, for any reason, you are separated from either of
them.
You have the right not to be picked on or treated unfairly
just because you are different from other children. For example, if you are
black, or you're a girl or disabled; if you follow a different religion, or
simply because you happen to be in care. You should be treated the same as other
children.
When decisions are made, you have the right to say what you think
and expect that adults will listen, and do what is best for you.
You have
the right to information that is about you, or that is about the home or school
you are living in or any services that you might need to use.
You have the
right to your own family name. This is a basic part of your identity, and should
not be changed unless you or your parents want to change it.
You have the
right to think and believe what you like, and choose your own religion, but your
parents should guide you. Also, if you have a different nationality then you
have the right to enjoy your own culture and use your own language.
You
have the right to privacy such as keeping your own personal diary that other
people shouldn't read, or staff not entering your bedroom without knocking and
waiting for your reply.
If you are disabled, you have the right to special
care and education to help you live a full and independent life.
You have
the right to special protection if you're a refugee and have been forced to
leave your country because of danger.
As you grow up, those looking after
you should respect your ability to understand, and encourage you to do things
for yourself.
No one has the right to hurt you. Adults must protect you
from violence, abuse or neglect, and if you do get hurt, they must do something
about it.
_____________
Mike Lindsay
OCRD
2
If, for any reason,
your family are unable to bring you up, you have the right to special care -
which could mean being adopted, fostered, or living in a children's home. If
you're adopted or 'in care', your wishes and needs should be put first - not
your parents' or any other adult's. If you're 'in care', others must check
regularly to make sure that you're being treated properly.
You have the
right to enough to eat, adequate clothes, and a roof over your head. If whoever
looks after you can't afford these, the government should help them.
You
have the right to education.
You have the right not to be punished in any
way that makes you look stupid or small.
You have the right not be made to
do harmful work. Work should not stop you from learning, being healthy, or
growing up. There are minimum ages for when children can work, and laws to make
sure that you're not working in bad conditions.
You have the right not to
be sexually exploited or abused. No one has the right to do things to your body.
Those looking after you, whether parents, staff or teachers, must keep you safe
from other adults who may try to sexually harm you in some way. If you're
worried about this you should always try to tell an adult you can trust.
You have the right to meet other people and join or set up your own groups, as
long as this doesn't interfere with other people's rights.
You have the
right to grow up healthy, which means getting proper healthcare and information
to help you stay healthy.
You have the right to play, and to relax by doing
things like sport, music, drama and art.
You have the right to be protected
from drugs - you shouldn't be forced to take them, make them, or deal them and
those looking after you should protect you from other adults who may try to get
you into drugs.
If you are accused of doing something wrong, you have the
right to be treated with respect and have a fair hearing.
33 The Children's
Rights Director will respect::--
YOUR RIGHT to privacy, by not asking you
to tell us about anything you don't want to
_____________
Mike
Lindsay
OCRD
3
YOUR RIGHT to confidentiality, by not telling anyone
else who it was that told us something, unless it is to help to keep you or
other children safe
YOUR RIGHT to information, by giving you booklets and
putting details on the internet that explain what we do
YOUR RIGHT to
complain, by asking you to tell us if we do or say anything that upsets you, or
you are not happy about, and passing it on to the right person to get it sorted
out
YOUR RIGHT to have your say, by inviting you to give your views, and
asking inspectors who visit your home, school or service to try not to do
anything that could affect you without first asking you what you
think
_____________
Mike Lindsay
OCRD
4