Human Rights for Young People

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child outlines the rights of people under the age of 18 including:

1. Young People have the right to be safe and protected from harm
2. Young People have the right not to be assaulted or abused in any way, be it physically, emotionally or sexually
3. Young People have the right to speak, be listened to and be believed
4. Young People have the right to make their own decisions about their future
5. Young People have the right to be treated with respect and dignity
6. Young People have the right to complain against unfair treatment and their complaint to be taken seriously
7. Young People have the right to say NO!

If you deserve rights then so do other people!!

This section: your rights

Your Responsibilities

If you want to use your rights and have them taken seriously by other people you have to accept certain responsibilities.

You do have the right to say no but there are always consequences to your actions and behaviour. For example, if you said no to doing your homework, what do you think would be the consequences?....... punishment... extra homework, failing exams... etc

So although you have the right to make decisions about your future, you need to make sure they are informed decisions and that you know all the possible consequences of the choices you make.

If you expect to be respected, believed and listened to, then it's only fair that you give other people respect, believe them and listen to them.

Legal Ages

Rights and Responsibilities are closely tied in with Rules and Laws and, similarly, some of these are made especially for young people.
For example:
At age of 8: you can be found guilty of a crime
At age of 16: you can be sent to a Young Offenders' Institution