Children's Rights
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is about making sure that children’s rights are respected
Article 12 'respect for the views of the child' is probably the most well known
For us, ensuring children are listened to is vital to ensure their other rights, particularly their protection from abuse
The Children’s Rights Team from Cornwall Council
The Children’s Rights Team from Cornwall Council worked with local children and young people to create a series of short films. In this film the children and young people explain what Children’s Rights mean to them, how it feels when rights are upheld and what it would be like if they couldn’t express themselves.
Advocacy
Advocates are people who can offer advice and support to children and young people who are experiencing certain situations in their lives including living in care, having a disability, being homeless or wanting to make a complaint. An Advocate's main role is to make sure that your views, wishes and feelings are heard when decisions are being made about your life. If you think you are entitled to an Advocate read more here or speak to someone you trust like a teacher, youth worker, social worker or family member and they can help make a referral.
Children's Commissioners
Each of the four nations in the UK has a Children's Commissioner who is responsible for promoting and protecting the rights and best interests of children and young people.
The Children’s Commissioner for England is there to promote the rights, views and interests of children in policies or decisions affecting their lives. They particularly represent children who are vulnerable or who find it hard to make their views known. The current commissioner is Dame Rachel de Souza. She says that her priority is to listen to children across the country and hear about their lives, which will help shape her time as Children’s Commissioner.
She has published The Big Ambition, compiling the voices, views and experiences of children about their lives and aspirations. Over 367,000 children and adults engaged with it, and findings cover 10 themes of family, education, children’s social care, youth work, online safety, health, safety from crime, jobs and skills, unaccompanied children seeking asylum and thoughts on ‘a better world’.
If you think that your rights are not being met, try to talk to someone you feel safe with about this so they can help you have your rights upheld and your views and wishes heard. This could be a teacher, family member, social worker, advocate or youth worker. You can also call a helpline like Childline for advice.
Always remember that everyone has rights, so you can help others by respecting their rights too.
More advice here from Childline on rights in lots of areas of your life.