An introduction to children’s rights

Group activity

agenda

• What are human rights?• Why children’s rights?• The UNCRC• Children’s rights in Wales• Children’s rights for education

planning & policy officers • Reflection and evaluation

Core Principles of Human Rights

• Universal

• Inalienable

• Indivisible

• Accountable

FREDA principles

• Fairness and freedom• Respect• Equality• Dignity• Autonomy

Why do children need separate rights?

• Maturity• Voiceless and invisible• Possessions

Wants, Needs and Rights

• Want - a desire for something

• Need - the state of requiring help, or of lacking basic necessities such as food

• Right - a moral or legal entitlement to have or do something

The 4 Components of a Right

1. The Rights Holder (a human being )2. The Object (the thing they have a

right to)3. The Obligated (people or institutions

- “duty bearers”)4. The Justification (greater human

dignity, societal development, a peaceful society)

Body of Rights

The UNCRC

• 54 articles• 41 substantive articles• 3 domains

4 underpinning rights

Article 2 - No discriminationArticle 3 - Best interests of the childArticle 6 - Right to lifeArticle 12 - Right to be heard

National Children and Young People’s Participation Standards

1. Information- which is easy for children and young people to understand

2. It’s Your Choice – enough information and time to make an informed choice

3. No Discrimination - every young person has the same chance to participate.

4. Respect- Your opinion will be taken seriously

5. You get something out of it- You will enjoy the experience

6. Feedback- You will find out what difference your opinion has made

7. Improving how we work- Adults will ask you how they can improve how they work for the future

Implementing the right to education- an example

Government

Has an obligation to find & allocate resources, define policy, achieve progress against targets

Education institutions

Have an obligation to train teachers, organise resources, create a child friendly environment

Teachers Have an obligation to teach well, to encourage parents, to support all children

Parents Should support their children’s learning

Children and young people

Should respect other children in order to support their peers to exercise their rights

The reporting process

• Every 5 years• Reports to the UN:

– UK Government (inc section by Welsh Government)

– NGO report– Young peoples report– Children’s Commisioners’ report (4 nations)

• Concluding observations• Welsh Government action plan• Monitoring group

Coffee break

UN Concluding Observations 2008 most relevant to education planning & policy officers 1

Welsh Government/UK government must1. Make sure that the rights in the UNCRC are known and

understood by adults and children2. Make sure the principles and values of the UNCRC are central to

everything that happens in schools3. There must be training on the UNCRC for all adults working with

children including teachers4. Must ensure respect for children’s views in the family, school,

communities and institutions5. Make sure that physical punishment is clearly banned in schools6. Set up ways to check how many cases of violence, sexual abuse,

neglect, bad treatment or exploitation take place in schools7. Make sure that teachers know about their duty to report and act

on suspected cases of domestic violence affecting children

UN Concluding Observations 2008 most relevant to education planning & policy officers 2

Welsh Government/UK government must8. Provide training for teachers who work with disabled

children9. Provide better sex and relationship services and

education to teenagers, and make sure that sex education is taught in schools

10.Do more to make sure that children’s backgrounds (where they live, parents education, income) do not affect how well they do in school

11.Put more money into making sure that all children get a fully inclusive education

12.Make sure children who do not go to school get an excellent education

13.Only use permanent and temporary exclusion as a last resort

UN Concluding Observations 2008 most relevant to education planning & policy officers 3

Welsh Government/UK government must14.Do more to reduce the number of children who are

excluded from school15.Make sure that social workers and psychologists are

available in schools16.Do more to stop bullying and violence in schools,

including by using education about human rights and tolerance

17.Strengthen children’s patricipation in everything that affects them at school

18.Make sure children have the right to appeal against their exclusion

19.Make sure all children have the right to appeal to an SEN tribunal about the education and suport they receive

Children’s Rights legislation & policy in Wales

• 2004 Children Act – Welsh Government adopted UNCRC as basis for all policy for children

• Seven core aims – based on UNCRC

• National Action Plan – Getting it Right 2009 - addressing 16 priorities for Wales

• Children and Families (Wales) Measure - passed in 2010

• Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure - Ministers will have to pay due regard to the UNCRC in all decisions they take

Articles most relevant to education planning & policy officers 1

• Article 12 – right to be heard• Article 13 – freedom of expression• Article 14 – governments should respect

children’s rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion

• Article 16 – right to privacy• Article 17 – access to appropriate information• Article 18 – both parents share responsibility for

bringing up their children• Article 19 – protection from abuse and neglect

Articles most relevant to education planning & policy officers 2

• Article 23 – disabled children have the right to special care, education and training to enjoy a full life

• Article 28 – right to education• Article 29 – education should develop the child’s

personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to the fullest extent

• Article 31 – right to leisure, play and cultural activities

Think of a child …

Putting learning into practice

Any final questions?