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A Rights Based Approach to Youth Information
Rights
• What are human rights?
• Why children’s rights?
The UNCRC
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Adopted by the UN in 1989
• Adopted by all except 2 countries in UN
• Contains 54 Articles
“The UNCRC intends to ensure that children and young people grow up in a safe, healthy world where they can participate freely and realise their potential”
UNICEF
Youth Information
• Directly linking Articles to Information and Advice
• How do we support children and young people to access entitlements?
Article 13
• Children have the right to get and share information as long as the information is not damaging to them or to others
Article 12
• Children have the right to say what they think should happen, when adults are making decisions that affect them, and to have their opinions taken into account. – This is a gateway right, without which it would
be more difficult to access their other rights– Article 12 incorporates the principles and
practice of participation
The UNCRC in Wales
• 2001 - Introduction of first Children’s Commissioner in UK
• 2002 – Extending Entitlement• 2004 (Children Act) – Welsh Government
adopted UNCRC as a basis for all policy for children
• Seven Core Aims – based on UNCRC• 2011 - Children’s Rights Measure (Ministers
must pay due regard to UNCRC in all decisions)
The UNCRC
• Rights into Action
Implementing the right to Education
• Government – obligation to define policy, find and allocate resources, ensure progress against targets is achieved.
• Institutions – obligation to train staff, organise resources, create child friendly environment.
• Educators – obligation to teach well, encourage children to learn and access their rights.
Rights into law – sexual health
• Young people have the right to access a full range of contraceptive services.
• Fraser Guidelines apply in cases where the young people are under 16
• Sexual and reproductive health services for young people must be: – confidential – accessible – free from judgement – offer a complete range of services
Adopting a rights-based approach to youth work
• The UNCRC is relevant to our youth work practice
• Access to information and advice underpins all four pillars of the youth work curriculum statement for Wales
Adopting a rights-based approach to youth work (cont’d)
• Article 15 – the right to meet with other children and join and form associations
• Article 29 – the right to an education which prepares her/him for an active, responsible life as an adult in a free society which respects others and the environment
• Article 31 - the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and to participate in educational, cultural and artistic activities.
• Article 34 - the right to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.
Rights-based activities for youth workers
• Make sure young people are aware of their rights and how to access them (Article 42)
• Young people have a say in all decisions affecting them (Article 12) – encourage young people to become part of a forum
• Agored Cymru Level 1 Children’s Rights & Citizenship
Moving forward
• What are the problems associated with effective access to information and advice?
• How do we put young people at the heart of defining what information and advice they require?
• What formats are relevant to young people today?
Moving forward
• Does anything change for young people?
• How do we know change is happening?
• How do we engage young people in driving that change?
• Is it any easier to access services, or to get the right support to access them?
Moving forward
• What are the impacts and outcomes for young people?
• You may not see the fruits of youth information work immediately.
• Importance of the integrity of this work and to ensure that both they and you are satisfied with the outcomes of the process to date.
Moving forward
• What is understood by young people’s involvement in development of information and advice services?
Messages from young people
• “Don’t just listen – do something!”
Want to know more? Here are some websites worth visiting
UNCRC Lets Get It Right www.uncrcletsgetitright.co.uk
CLICwww.cliconline.co.uk
Children’s Commissioner www.childcomwales.org.uk