AFI Youth Summit on Children Human Rights - Violence Against Children 2017

AFI Young Changemakers Summit on Children’s Human Rights: Violence Against Children, Parallel Event at the 32nd Human Rights Council Ariel Foundation International and Ariana-Leilani Children’s Foundation International Palais Des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Authors: Ariana-LeilaniM. A. King-Pfeiffer (Child Ambassador Chair) Ava Hollowell Dyland Jackson Elena Smith El Medina Jeteshi Hannah Durham-Arnold Hugo Alexander Panton Williams Illona Walsh Jakob Neufeld Juliette Lacombe de Repentigny Karla Heminger , Kedina Hoeft Khoshi Sarwari Laura Keochlin Maja Heminger Mantas Padrostys Mia Smith Milou Hoeft Scarlett Cassidy Sophia Mitchell-Jones Tara Heminger Thomas Cassidy Viktorija Padrostyte

Editor: Sarah Perchikoff Sarah Perchikoff is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Writing. Sarah’s background is in non-fiction and blog writing, editing, and copyediting. Sarah’s life passion is for social justice, and giving voices to people who are not often heard. She believes in the power of words to make change in the world. Sarah has spent most of her life growing up in Michigan. She currently cohabitates with her miniature dachshund, Gracie.

Photos by: Ariel Foundation Intenrational Delegates and Parents Ariel Foundation International © Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from Children’s Ambassador Ariana-Leilani King-Pfeiffer

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Message from President, Dr Ariel King

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Delegates List

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Team For Children Human Rights Summit on Children and Violence

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United Nations Convention on The Rights Of The Child

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Delegate Presentations

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Delegates on Children and Violence

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Summary of the Rights Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child

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This Publication is dedicated to: Ariana-Leilani Margarita Alexandra King-Pfeiffer on her 14th birthday, 7 May 2017, whose life has inspired the ALCF to advocate and educate for children’s human rights worldwide.

Ariana-Leilani Children Foundation International (Educating and Advocating for Children’s Human Rights Worldwide) “The Little Ambassador” Ariana-Leilani Margarita Alexandra King-Pfeiffer, 14 All children, all over the world, have human rights.

You, as children and delegates, are important people for all children because you shared your opinion about children’s human rights as a child delegate at the United Nations Human Rights Council parallel event in Geneva, Switzerland. Please keep speaking up for the children of the world!

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Dr. Ariel Rosita King, MPH, MBA, PhD Founder, President, and CEO of Ariel Foundation International

We couldn’t have been more excited to have welcomed the delegates to the 4th Children’s Human Rights Summit at the United Nations on Children and Violence on Friday, 17 June 2016.

AFI-ALCF Children Delegates at the United Nations is an international children-led summit sponsored by Ariel Foundation International and the Ariana-Leilani Children’s Foundation International. Our mission is to educate and advocate for children’s human rights. International Children Delegates range between ages 7 to 15. The children all talked together, learned together, and promoted children rights and peace together.

By doing this the children delegates contributed to the work activities of the United Nations through their participation at the children promoting peace summit.

The Summit was conceived, planned and facilitated by the Ariel Foundation International, a non-profit organisation founded by Dr. Ariella (Ariel) King which promotes partnerships, peace and prosperity through education, experience through service, leadership and support of children, young people and their communities worldwide.

We are very fortunate to have very talented and dedicated people volunteering their time to make these summit wonderful. Our wonderful Associates are Dr. Ariella (Ariel) King, Dr. Matthew McVarish, Sandra Heminger, Inesa Pranckaityte and Lidija Pastarnokaite.

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DELEGATE

COUNTRY

Ariana-Leilani M. A. King-Pfeiffer Ava Hollowell Dyland Jackson Elena Smith El Medina Jeteshi Hannah Durham-Arnold Hugo Alexander Panton Williams Illona Walsh Jakob Neufeld Juliette Lacombe de Repentigny Karla Heminger Kedina Hoeft Khoshi Sarwari Laura Keochlin Mantas Padrostys Maja Heminger Mia Smith Milou Hoeft Scarlett Cassidy Sophia Mitchell-Jones Tara Heminger Thomas Cassidy Viktorija Padrostyte

Germany/USA United Kingdom United Kingdom Switzerland Serbia Australia United Kingdom United Kingdom United Kingdom Canada Sweden/USA Netherlands/Germany Afghanistan Lithuania/Scotland Lithuania Sweden/USA Switzerland Netherlands/Germany United Kingdom France/UK/USA Sweden/USA United Kingdom Lithuania

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AGE 13 8 8 8 9 11 9 12 7 12 9 12 9 11 14 8 12 9 13 11 6 8 8

TEAM FOR CHILDREN HUMAN RIGHTS SUMMIT ON CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE Dr. Ariella (Ariel) King

Dr. King loves to play music and write (guitar and sing). She loves ice cream and cookies and to ski, SCUBA dive and the beach! She likes to play tennis and loves to be with children of all ages.

Dr. King is a children’s human rights advocate and educator. She is an “auntie” and “mother of the heart” for several children and youth adults from all over the world. She isI am also the very proud mommy of the 13-year old “Little Ambassador” Ariana-Leilani Margarita Alexandra King-Pfeiffer, who is named after the Palais des Nations park and museum (Ariana) and whose life has inspired the founding of the Ariana-Leilani Children’s Foundation International (2008) to educate and advocate for children’s human rights worldwide.

Dr. Matthew McVarish

Dr. Matthew McVarish walked 10,000 miles (that's 16,000 kilometers) round all of Europe to help stop violence against children and child sexual abuse. He was on TV, radio and in newspapers in thirty languages reaching out to millions of people and asking governments to change their laws and protect children better. Matthew was invited to meet Pope Francis and to speak to the whole Council of Europe in Strasbourg, where all 47 European governments meet in one big room. He now works with the Scottish Government helping make positive change in his home country and helps an organisation in Bangkok called ECPAT, who campaign for changes to protect children across the whole world. Matthew still appears daily as an actor on BBC children television in the UK.

Ms. Sandra Heminger

Sandra Heminger has Swedish upbringing with Spanish heritage. She is married to an American and lived and worked in London, UK for 10 years. She now lives in Geneva, Switzerland with her husband and 3 daughters. She has a BA (Hons) Social Work degree from Sweden which she partly obtained from studies in both Australia and USA. She worked with Child Protection, adoption and long-term fostering in Westminster, London. She is a permanent associate with AFI, and currently works with Dr. King and children at the UN. Dancing makes her happy.She believe you can do anything you want to do.

Ms. Inesa Pranckaityte

Inesa Pranckaityte is from Lithuania. She works with AFI-Lithuania in all the children’s programmes. She is AFI’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva. Ms. Pranckaityt is also the AFI representative at the European Parliament.

Lidija Pastarnokaite She is a high school student from Lithuania. She has just finished a one-year program in the Lithuanian School of Success. During the past several years, She has volunteered in the Save the Children Lithuania. As long as she can remember, she has loved nature and feels respect for everything that surrounds her.

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UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD Your human rights are protected by The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (54 articles). It is law in almost the entire world, 194 countries. Today children do not have human rights under the UNCRC in only one country, the United States of America. YOU HAVE A RIGHT...

1. You and every child have all these rights.

2. You have a right to protection against discrimination.

3. You have a right to have all adults always do what is best for you.

4. You have a right for governments to make your rights real.

5. You have the right to be given guidance by your parents and family.

6. You have the right to life.

7. You have the right to have a name and a nationality.

8. You have the right to an identity.

9. You have the right to live with your parents, unless it is bad for you.

10. You have a right to get back to and live with your parents if they are living in a separate country.

11. You have a right not be kidnapped.

12. You have the right to an opinion, to be listened to and taken seriously.

13. You have a right to say what you think.

14. You have the right to think and be whatever religion you want to be.

15. You have the right to be with friends and to join or set up clubs.

16. You have the right to a private life.

17. You have the right to collect information from the media if it is not harmful to you.

18. You have the right to be brought up by your parents, if possible.

19. You have the right to be protected from being hurt or treated badly.

20. You have the right to special protection and help if you can’t live with your parents.

21. You have the right to have the best care if you are adopted or fostered or living in care.

22. You have the right to special protection and help if you are a refugee.

23. You have the right to special care and education to lead a full life if you are disabled.

24. You have a right to the best health possible and to medical care and to information.

25. You have the right for your living situation to be checked regularly when not living with your parents 26. You have the right to help from the government if you are in need.

27. You have the right to good food, clothes and a place to live.

28. You have the right to education.

29. You have the right to education to develop your personality and abilities.

30. You have the right to enjoy your own culture, religion, and language.

31. You have the right to play and relax.

32. You have the right to protection from work that is bad for you.

33. You have the right to be protected from dangerous drugs.

34. You have the right to be protected from sexual abuse and exploitation.

35. You have right for to not be kidnapped or sold.

36. You have the right to protection from all kinds of exploitation.

37. You have the right not to be punished in a cruel or hurtful way.

38. You have a right to protection in times of war.

39. You have a right to help if you are hurt, neglected, or abused.

40. You have the right to defend yourself with help if accused of breaking the law.

41. You have the right to laws in your country or internationally that give better rights than these.

42. You have a right to learn about your rights and for adults to learn them too.

43-�54. You have a right for governments and organizations to make your rights be a reality.

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DELEGATE PRESENTATIONS

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DELEGATE PRESENTATIONS

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DELEGATE PRESENTATIONS Mia Smith, age 12

Onebook, one pen, one child, and one teacher can changethe world.

-Malala Yousafzai

Who is Malala? This is a picture of her when she was three years old. This is when she got shot on the ninth of October 2013. This is when she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. She was born on the 12th of July 1997 in Mingora, Pakistan. In 2009, she followed in her father’s footsteps and she loved learning and going to school. But then television and movies and music were banned, women weren’t allowed to go into town and girls weren’t allowed to go to school.

M alala is a Pakistani activist for girls’ education and the youngest-ever Nobel Prize winner.

Malala decided to stand up and speak and she started writing for the BBC blog. On the 9th of October 2013, a terrorist came into the bus that was taking her to school and asked for her name and then shot her in the head. She was in critical condition but she survived. In 2014, she won the Nobel Peace Prize and she became the youngest person to win it.

Malala stood up for education and the right for girls to go to school. Terrorists attempted to silence her using violence.

Now Malala is known all over the world and her voice is heard by many more people

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DELEGATE PRESENTATIONS Elena Smith, age 8

“This is one of the journeys some refugees in Syria have to do. This is a girl and she is saying “Syria used to be beautiful but now it’s ruined..” because of the war and their showing a picture of what they give to a girl.”

Protecting children in Syria

By Elena Smith

This is one of the many journeys Syrian children do.

“Syria used to be beautiful but now it’s ruined…”

“Peace for Syrian Children. Every day hundreds of Syrian children, their lives get torn apart and instead of having fun, they have to miss supper and go dangerous places.”

Peace for Syrian children

Every day, hundreds of Syrian children are having their lives torn apart.

Instead of going to school, playing outside, hanging out with their friends, they are suffering. This isn’t a normal childhood.

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DELEGATE PRESENTATIONS Hugo Alexander Panton Williams, age 9

UN Youth summit children and violence

By Hugo Williams

Kidnapping

This presentation is about violence and children. Kidnapping.

I think this is a man kidnapping a child. It is violence because he is scared he will no longer be with his parents.

Image from Britannica ImageQuest

I think that this is a man kidnapping a little boy. It is horrendous because he is scared. He will no longer be with his parents.

Bullying

“Bullying. I think this boy is getting punched in the face. He is scared it is going to hurt. Children shouldn’t be treated this way.”

“I think this image is horrible because all of the people being killed.There is blood everywhere.”

Image from Britannica ImageQuest

I think this is a boy getting punched in the face. He is scared it is going to hurt.

This is wrong as no child should be treated this way.

Slaughter of the innocents

Image from Britannica ImageQuest

I think this image is horrible because of all the people being killed. There is blood everywhere.

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DELEGATE PRESENTATIONS Thomas Cassidy, age 8

Syria is filled with war and it is so bad that people are having to leave to go to a different country. When they get to the country, they feel unsafe. Some children are taken away from their parents and this makes them feel scared and lonely. I think it is horrible that children have no homes and are alone. They don’t have anyone to talk to when they are angry, lonely or frustrated. It is so sad to hear about people getting murdered or starving to death. I think it is fantastic that the UN are making a difference in homeless children’s life.

AFI Youth Summit at the UN Children and violence Made by Tomas Cassidy

Syrian Refugees https://youtu.be/RBQ-IoHfimQ https://youtu.be/RBQ

Syria is filled with war and it is so bad that people are having to leave to go to a different country.

When they get to the country, they feel unsafe.

Some children are taken away from their parents and this makes them feel scared and lonely.

Homeless children I think it is horrible that children have no homes and are alone. I think they just don't know what to do with their life and are just smoking cigarettes which is disgusting behaviour.

They don't have anyone to talk to when they are angry lonely or frustrated. It is so sad to hear about people getting murdered or starving to death.

I think it is fantastic that the UN are making a difference in homeless children's life.

I think it’s not fair for children that are bullied around the world. It’ a depressing form of violence when a bully hurts a child. He will carry on until someone puts a stop to it. Bullying can also mean teasing or threatening using bad words. The Home of New Hope or Nawa Asha Griha (NAG) organisation in Nepal is my school’s main charity and it provides shelter and free education to underprivileged children in Kathmandu, Nepal. On the 10th of June, we held a cupcake, cookie and lemonade stall and raised CHF 572.50 for NAG. All the children baked cakes, cookies and jellies and cupcakes and they were amazing!

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bullying I think it is not fair for children that are bullied constantly around the world.

It is a depressing form of violence when a bully hurts a child. He probably will not stop, he will carry on until someone puts a stop to it.

Bullying can also mean teasing or threatening using bad words which can hurt people a lot.

NAG In Nepal The Home of New Hopes, or Nawa Asha Griha (NAG) organisation in Nepal is my school’s main charity and it provides shelter and free education to under privileged street children in Kathmandu, Nepal.

I raised CHF 572.50 for NAGs charity in a fun bake sale.

On Friday 10 June, Tomas C and Linus H from 3D held a cupcake, cookie and lemonade stall and raised a whopping CHF 572.50 for NAG, the Nepalese Charity for street children that ISZL Support. All children in the 3D family baked cakes, cookies and jellies and cupcakes and they were amazing! Mrs Dobrenski said, ‘It is amazing what can be done with an idea. Tomas had this idea and took action to make it happen. As a result many people in NAG will benefit. I am very proud of this caring young man. Keep it up!’

My favourite part of the sale were the smiles on the children’s faces when they took a cupcake, cookie or a drink of lemonade Tomas said. Linus said The day was wonderful, I think people should do this more often and it would be great if other children took action and did something for the world.

DELEGATE PRESENTATIONS Ava Hollowell, age 8

Child Soldiers

I chose this photograph because this little girl has to fight and if she does not fight and kill people, someone will kill her. She does not have the same opportunities as we do, like going to school, playing with friends or her pets. The other thing I don’t think is right, is that children like her are taken from their parents and they may not see them again.

My name is Ava Hollowell, I am 8 years old. > I chose this photograph because this little girl has to fight and if she does not fight and kill people, someone will kill her. > She does not have the same opportunities as we do, like going to school, playing with friends or her pets. > The other thing I don’tt think is right, is that children like her are taken from their parents and they may not see them again.

Khoshi Sarwari, age 9 It’s a pleasure to be here to talk about the situation of Afghans living in Afghanistan.

Many children in Afghanistan do not enjoy the basic needs of life, like food and water. Moreover, some still cannot go to school. There is not much respect for children’s rights. Poverty, war and violence force many children in Afghanistan to go and work to bring food for their families as they have lost their parents and food suppliers.

I am one of the children who a few months back was forced to leave my beloved country without my father. In conclusion, I request from other children who have the opportunity to study and live better, study hard and work together to help children who need our help. Thank you for your support and attention.

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DELEGATE PRESENTATIONS Sophia Mitchell-Jones, age 11

I would like to talk about economic violence as being the greatest violence that children experience. The lack of opportunites, education, clean water and good food which come from economic violence are the ones which have the lasting impact and cannot be healed. When a child has no education because going to school is not considered a human right, that child will become an adult with very few opportunities for success. They will pay their whole life for a lack of education.

When a child is forced to drink water that is poisoned with lead or too many chemicals like in the USA, Cosovo, or Africa, then that child will have brain damage forever. They will not heal. When a child’s body and brain do not grow properly because of poor access to quality food then that child will pay their whole life for this nutrition problem. When countries spend all their money on wars and killing and not on education and feeding their citizens, this is the worst violence which children and a country can face.

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DELEGATE PRESENTATIONS El Medina Jeteshi, age 9

There is violence against groups in Roma. Kids can’t go to school.

One percent go to secondary school. My little brother and little sister don’t have nationality. In my country, I can’t drink water and the water is poisoned. The police don’t protect the kids and the kids get taken away from their families. The violence is sometimes invisible but sometimes it is visible and the visible one really hurts. Why isn’t education a part of rights?

Translated by Sophia Mitchell-Jones

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DELEGATE PRESENTATIONS Tara Heminger, age 6 & Jakob Neufeld, age 7

Fixing problems peacefully. Every child, teenager, and adult has the right to solve their problems with others respectfully.

How? Stop whatever you are fighting about. Say what you want to stop and how it makes you feel. Listen to the other person state their part of the problem.Think of solutions together. Create a solution together and do it.

FI X I N G PROBL EMS PEA CEFU L LY EV ERY CH I L D , T EEN A GER A N D A D U LT H A S T H E RI GH T T O SOLV E T H EI R PROBL EMS W I T H OT H ERS, RESPECT FU L LY.

• St op : • Say :

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1) W h at y ou w an t t o st op an d h ow i t m ak es y ou f eel .

2) L i st en t o t h e ot h er p er son say t h ei r p ar t of t h e p r ob l em .

•

What can help us?

Mindfulness can help us because it can help us learn about our feelings and make us calm down and change our mood.

Friends, family and other adults or children can help us because if we put our brains together, we can think of better solutions.

Using our imagination helps us to think of a solution. You can imagine the solution.Stop fighting and start fixing together.

W h at ev er y ou ar e f i gh t i n g ab ou t .

•

• Th i n k :

Of sol u t i on s t oget h er .

• Ch oose:

A sol u t i on t oget h er an d d o i t .

Mi n d f u l n ess: •

We l ear n ab ou t ou r f eel i n gs.

•

We l ear n h ow t o cal m d ow n an d ch an ge ou r m ood .

Fr i en d s, f am i l y an d ot h er ad u l t s or ch i l d r en : •

I f w e p u t ou r b r ai n s t oget h er , w e can t h i n k of b et t er sol u t i on s.

•

U si n g ou r i m agi n at i on h el p s u s t o t h i n k of ou r p r ob l em s an d h ow w e cou l d sol v e t h em .

ST OP FI GH T I N G STA RT FI X I N G…

A n y t h i n g w ar can d o

Peace can d o bet t er

DELEGATES AT THE UNITED NATIONS

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DELEGATES ON CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE

Violence “I think violence should not be used to solve problems around the world and other things are much better solutions like peace meetings with people around the world” “I think violence is horrible. Over the world, people should have peace in their country and their should be no war. I think bullying is horrible and it should be put to a stop.”

“I think violence is horrible, especially verbal abuse. It’s as horrible to see people being tortured and are so depressed about war or anything like bullying or cyberbullying.”

Change “It’s one thing to just change one child’s life, but we need to change each child’s life so that everyone’s life is equal and everyone can be happy.”

“Grown ups say that they have to help the kids change the world but they never actually do something, though kids, if they had the power of grown-ups, they would probably change the world.”

“I think we need to find a way fast to solve this problem with children and violence. Children shouldn’t have to go to war.

They shouldn’t be forced to do anything they don’t want to do.”

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Bullying

DELEGATES ON CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE

“I don’t find it fair that the kids get picked on when their getting bullied. There is only one child which is getting bullied by a lot of mean people.”

“I don’t think people should bully anyone, shout at anyone, and I don’t think they should hurt anyone because its not very nice.

It might heal but if someone says a word, something very bad, it will never heal.”

Education “I think that every child should be able to go to school and to learn thing so that when they grow up they can earn more money and they can live a much happier and healthier lifestyle” “I think every girl and human being should have education.”

“I think violence is people not having education, that’s the biggest violence. If someone hurts you, that can be violence but you heal but if you don’t have education you can’t heal.”

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DELEGATES ON CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE

Child Abuse “I think it’s unfair for the kids have to escape the country and who get tortured to do things which their not supposed to and they get tortured very badly.”

to

“Everyone knows about violence towards children in the war, there’s also violence at home when children get treated badly by their parents and sometimes its hard for the children to speak up. So that needs to be taken into consideration too.”

“I think it’s unfair for the children to get locked in their room where it’s dripping and it’s all dark.”

“I really find that it’s sad that there are children that will do nothing wrong and there are these parents that aren’t getting in trouble for the harm they are causing.”

“I don’t think it’s fair that children get slapped by their parents.”

“A lot of parents have use the old fashioned way of spanking, which a lot of people find funny but it’s not. It’s another physical abuse that should never be used on anybody.”

“I think we should have stricter laws on child abuse in some countries where the laws aren’t as strict as they need to be.”

“I want children to be happy and not have violence.”

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DELEGATES ON CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE

War “I think it’s unfair for children because they have to suffer in the war and they have to work and escape when their not supposed to.”

“I think it’s unfair for the children that they have to go to war when they’re only kids.”

“I think it’s unfair for the kids who have to go away from their country that they live in.”

“I don’t think its fair that refugees get treated differently than we do.”

“I don’t think it’s fair the kids in like Syria and other countries who have to suffer and they lose their parents and they have to escape somewhere safe and they get tortured if anyone sees them.”

“I don’t know why they have to lock up little children. Why do guns have to exist? Those are questions.

I think people should stop fighting and start thinking what they should start doing. I think they are just jealous of other people with stuff that they don’t have. I would have thought that if they were in a war and they didn’t like it that they would learn from the older ones.

The older wars should show the example.”

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DELEGATES ON CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE

“I don’t think it’s fair how there are child warriors in poor countries and the government never does anything about it and just lets all of these groups, religious groups, like ISIS for instance, have child warriors.”

“In World War I, it was horrible but World War II was much more horrible because like a city from America destroyed Japan. So I think we need peace and that’s important. One of the baddest things was created in World War II. It was a bazooka.

Bazookas were not good because they were rocket launchers.

What they also do is they push you back. It will shoot you.

“I think they fight in wars because they are scared of something.

I think you should just speak up, use your voice to speak and if they just spoke, there wouldn’t be wars. It’s sad, with the people who get killed and I don’t think it’s right. I think someone should put a stop to it. I don’t like wars. My grandfather, he was born in one of the wars in the second world war and I thought he must have been very scared. So, I think someone should put a stop to it. Too many wars are bad. At the end, I wouldn’t have thought there would be anything left.”

“I want children to be happy.

War is bad because, like World War I and World War II was not a good idea but it was many years ago. People fought different things. The European Union was created for that.”

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Fairness

DELEGATES ON CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE

“I don’t think it’s fair that grown ups always underestimate children, just because they are smaller, they are less capable of doing things.”

“I think it’s not fair that children get punished when they try things but do it wrong.”

“I think it’s not fair that small children get punished only because they try something new.”

“I don’t find it’s fair when teachers, they like pick on kids even though they haven’t done anything and they get really, really mad at them and send them to the director of the school and get told off and they have to do stuff at home.”

“I don’t think it’s fair that people get punished for nothing.”

“I think it’s unfair that children aren’t treated the same way as adults.”

“I don’t think it’s fair that grown ups are always pushing kids around and to do things when we need our own opinions on different things”

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DELEGATES ON CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE

Children’s Rights “I think it’s unfair how children know what their rights are and they tell other people to respect their rights but parents and teachers do not always respect those rights.”

“I think that whenever anyone tries to have a conference about child’s rights and children going into war and torture to children, I think there should be children there because, even though adults were children once, the children of this generation need to have their voices heard.”

“I think that children should come up with children’s rights because, although adults used to be children, they are now adults, so they don’t think the same way as children. Children should be able to make their rights”

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SUMMARY OF THE RIGHTS UNDER THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD Article 1 (Definition of the child): The Convention defines a 'child' as a person

below the age of 18, unless the laws of a particular country set the legal age for adulthood younger. The Committee on the Rights of the Child, the monitoring body for the Convention, has encouraged States to review the age of majority if it is set below 18 and to increase the level of protection for all children under 18.

Article 2 (Non-discrimination): The Convention applies to all children, whatever

their race, religion or abilities; whatever they think or say, whatever type of family they come from. It doesn’t matter where children live, what language they speak, what their parents do, whether they are boys or girls, what their culture is, whether they have a disability or whether they are rich or poor. No child should be treated unfairly on any basis.

Article 3 (Best interests of the child): The best interests of children must be the

primary concern in making decisions that may affect them. All adults should do what is best for children. When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children. This particularly applies to budget, policy and lawmakers.

Article 4 (Protection of rights): Governments have a responsibility to take all

available measures to make sure children’s rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.

When countries ratify the Convention, they agree to review their laws relating to children.

This involves assessing their social services, legal, health and educational systems, as well as levels of funding for these services. Governments are then obliged to take all necessary steps to ensure that the minimum standards set by the Convention in these areas are being met. They must help families protect children’s rights and create an environment where they can grow and reach their potential. In some instances, this may involve changing existing laws or creating new ones. Such legislative changes are not imposed, but come about through the same process by which any law is created or reformed within a country. Article 41 of the Convention points out that when a country already has higher legal standards than those seen in the Convention, the higher standards always prevail.

Article 5 (Parental guidance): Governments should respect the rights and

responsibilities of families to direct and guide their children so that, as they grow, they learn to use their rights properly. Helping children to understand their rights does not mean pushing them to make choices with consequences that they are too young to handle. Article 5 encourages parents to deal with rights issues "in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child.” The Convention does not take responsibility for children away from their parents and give more authority to governments. It does place on governments the responsibility to protect and assist families in fulfilling their essential role as nurturers of children.

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SUMMARY OF THE RIGHTS UNDER THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Article 6 (Survival and development): Children have the right to live. Governments should ensure that children survive and develop healthily.

Article 7 (Registration, name, nationality, care): All children have the right to a

legally registered name officially recognised by the government. Children have the right to a nationality (to belong to a country). Children also have the right to know and, as much as possible, to be cared for by their parents.

Article 8 (Preservation of identity): Children have the right to an identity – an

official record of who they are. Governments should respect children’s right to a name, a nationality and family ties.

Article 9 (Separation from parents): Children have the right to live with their

parent(s), unless it is bad for them. Children whose parents do not live together have the right to stay in contact with both parents, unless this might hurt the child.

Article 10 (Family reunification): Families whose members live in different countries should be allowed to move between those countries so that parents and children can stay in contact, or get back together as a family.

Article 11 (Kidnapping): Governments should take steps to stop children being

taken out of their own country illegally. This article is particularly concerned with parental abductions. The Convention’s Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography has a provision that concerns abduction for financial gain.

Article 12 (Respect for the views of the child): When adults are making decisions

that affect children, children have the right to say what they think should happen and have their opinions taken into account. This does not mean that children can now tell their parents what to do. This Convention encourages adults to listen to the opinions of children and involve them in decision-making -- not give children authority over adults.

Article 12 does not interfere with parents' rights and responsibilities to express their views on matters affecting their children. Moreover, the Convention recognizes that the level of a child’s participation in decisions must be appropriate to the child's level of maturity.

Children's ability to form and express their opinions develops with age and most adults will naturally give the views of teenagers greater weight than those of a preschooler, whether in family, legal or administrative decisions.

Article 13 (Freedom of expression): Children have the right to get and share

information, as long as the information is not damaging to them or others. In exercising the right to freedom of expression, children have the responsibility to also respect the rights, freedoms and reputations of others. The freedom of expression includes the right to share information in any way they choose, including by talking, drawing or writing.

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Article 14 (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion): Children have

the right to think and believe what they want and to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights. Parents should help guide their children in these matters. The Convention respects the rights and duties of parents in providing religious and moral guidance to their children. Religious groups around the world have expressed support for the Convention, which indicates that it in no way prevents parents from bringing their children up within a religious tradition. At the same time, the Convention recognizes that as children mature and are able to form their own views, some may question certain religious practices or cultural traditions. The Convention supports children's right to examine their beliefs, but it also states that their right to express their beliefs implies respect for the rights and freedoms of others.

Article 15 (Freedom of association): Children have the right to meet together and

to join groups and organisations, as long as it does not stop other people from enjoying their rights. In exercising their rights, children have the responsibility to respect the rights, freedoms and reputations of others.

Article 16 (Right to privacy): Children have a right to privacy. The law should

protect them from attacks against their way of life, their good name, their families and their homes.

Article 17 (Access to information; mass media): Children have the right to

get information that is important to their health and well-being. Governments should encourage mass media – radio, television, newspapers and Internet content sources – to provide information that children can understand and to not promote materials that could harm children. Mass media should particularly be encouraged to supply information in languages that minority and indigenous children can understand. Children should also have access to children’s books.

Article 18 (Parental responsibilities; state assistance): Both parents share

responsibility for bringing up their children, and should always consider what is best for each child. Governments must respect the responsibility of parents for providing appropriate guidance to their children – the Convention does not take responsibility for children away from their parents and give more authority to governments. It places a responsibility on governments to provide support services to parents, especially if both parents work outside the home.

Article 19 (Protection from all forms of violence): Children have the right to

be protected from being hurt and mistreated, physically or mentally. Governments should ensure that children are properly cared for and protect them from violence, abuse and neglect by their parents, or anyone else who looks after them. In terms of discipline, the Convention does not specify what forms of punishment parents should use. However, any 29

SUMMARY OF THE RIGHTS UNDER THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

form of discipline involving violence is unacceptable. There are ways to discipline children that are effective in helping children learn about family and social expectations for their behaviour – ones that are non-violent, are appropriate to the child's level of development and take the best interests of the child into consideration. In most countries, laws already define what sorts of punishments are considered excessive or abusive. It is up to each government to review these laws in light of the Convention.

Article 20 (Children deprived of family environment): Children who cannot

be looked after by their own family have a right to special care and must be looked after properly by people who respect their ethnic group, religion, culture and language.

Article 21 (Adoption): Children have the right to care and protection if they are

adopted or in foster care. The first concern must be what is best for them. The same rules should apply whether they are adopted in the country where they were born, or if they are taken to live in another country.

Article 22 (Refugee children): Children have the right to special protection and

help if they are refugees (if they have been forced to leave their home and live in another country), as well as all the rights in this Convention.

Article 23 (Children with disabilities): Children who have any kind of disability

have the right to special care and support, as well as all the rights in the Convention so that they can live full and independent lives.

Article 24 (Health and health services): Children have the right to good quality health care – the best health care possible – to safe drinking water, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment, and information to help them stay healthy. Rich countries should help poorer countries achieve this.

Article 25 (Review of treatment in care): Children who are looked after by their

local authorities, rather than their parents, have the right to have these living arrangements looked at regularly to see if they are the most appropriate. Their care and treatment should always be based on “the best interests of the child”. (see Guiding Principles, Article 3)

Article 26 (Social security): Children – either through their guardians or directly – have the right to help from the government if they are poor or in need.

Article 27 (Adequate standard of living): Children have the right to a standard of

living that is good enough to meet their physical and mental needs. Governments should help families and guardians who cannot afford to provide this, particularly with regard to food, clothing and housing.

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Article 28 (Right to education): All children have the right to a primary education,

which should be free. Wealthy countries should help poorer countries achieve this right.

Discipline in schools should respect children’s dignity. For children to benefit from education, schools must be run in an orderly way – without the use of violence. Any form of school discipline should take into account the child's human dignity. Therefore, governments must ensure that school administrators review their discipline policies and eliminate any discipline practices involving physical or mental violence, abuse or neglect.

The Convention places a high value on education. Young people should be encouraged to reach the highest level of education of which they are capable.

Article 29 (Goals of education): Children’s education should develop each child’s

personality, talents, and abilities to the fullest. It should encourage children to respect others’ human rights and their own and other cultures. It should also help them learn to live peacefully, protect the environment, and respect other people. Children have a particular responsibility to respect the rights of their parents. Education should aim to develop respect for the values and culture of their parents. The Convention does not address such issues as school uniforms, dress codes, the singing of the national anthem or prayer in schools. It is up to governments and school officials in each country to determine whether, in the context of their society and existing laws, such matters infringe upon other rights protected by the Convention.

Article 30 (Children of minorities/indigenous groups): Minority or indigenous

children have the right to learn about and practice their own culture, language, and religion.

The right to practice one’s own culture, language, and religion applies to everyone. The Convention here highlights this right in instances where the practices are not shared by the majority of people in the country.

Article 31 (Leisure, play and culture): Children have the right to relax and play,

and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic, and other recreational activities.

Article 32 (Child labour): The government should protect children from work that is

dangerous or might harm their health or their education. While the Convention protects children from harmful and exploitative work, there is nothing in it that prohibits parents from expecting their children to help out at home in ways that are safe and appropriate to their age. If children help out in a family farm or business, the tasks they do should be safe and suited to their level of development and comply with national labour laws. Children's work should not jeopardize any of their other rights, including the right to education, or the right to relaxation and play.

Article 33 (Drug abuse): Governments should use all means possible to protect

children from the use of harmful drugs and from being used in the drug trade.

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SUMMARY OF THE RIGHTS UNDER THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Article 34 (Sexual exploitation): Governments should protect children from all

forms of sexual exploitation and abuse. This provision in the Convention is augmented by the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

Article 35 (Abduction, sale and trafficking): The government should take all

measures possible to make sure that children are not abducted, sold or trafficked. This provision in the Convention is augmented by the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

Article 36 (Other forms of exploitation): Children should be protected from any

activity that takes advantage of them or could harm their welfare and development.

Article 37 (Detention and punishment): No one is allowed to punish children in

a cruel or harmful way. Children who break the law should not be treated cruelly. They should not be put in prison with adults, should be able to keep in contact with their families, and should not be sentenced to death or life imprisonment without possibility of release.

Article 38 (War and armed conflicts): Governments must do everything they can

to protect and care for children affected by war. Children under 15 should not be forced or recruited to take part in a war or join the armed forces. The Convention’s Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict further develops this right, raising the age for direct participation in armed conflict to 18 and establishing a ban on compulsory recruitment for children under 18.

Article 39 (Rehabilitation of child victims): Children who have been neglected, abused or exploited should receive special help to physically and psychologically recover and reintegrate into society. Particular attention should be paid to restoring the health, self-respect and dignity of the child.

Article 40 (Juvenile justice): Children who are accused of breaking the law have

the right to legal help and fair treatment in a justice system that respects their rights.

Governments are required to set a minimum age below which children cannot be held criminally responsible and to provide minimum guarantees for the fairness and quick resolution of judicial or alternative proceedings.

Article 41 (Respect for superior national standards): If the laws of a country

provide better protection of children’s rights than the articles in this Convention, those laws should apply.

Article 42 (Knowledge of rights): Governments should make the Convention known to adults and children. Adults should help children learn about their rights, too.

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(See also article 4.)

Articles 43-54 (implementation measures): These articles discuss how governments and international organizations like UNICEF should work to ensure children are protected in their rights.

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