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 mental health workers 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 discrimination Article 3 - Best interests of the child Article 6 - Right to life Article 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 GovernmentHas 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 TeachersHave an obligation to teach well, to encourage parents, to support all children ParentsShould 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 WAG) –NGO report –Young peoples report –Children’s Commisioners’ report (4 nations) Concluding observations WAG action plan Monitoring group

Coffee break

UN Concluding Observations 2008 relevant to mental health workers WAG/UK government must There must be training on UNCRC for all adults working with children, including health professionals Make sure respect for children’s views is promoted, put into practice and becomes part of law Offer more help to parents to help them raise their children Make sure children with a parent in prison get the support they need More money should be spent on mental health services for children and services should be expanded Provide better sex and relationship services for teenagers Carry out research into why teenagers use drugs and alcohol Improve mental health and counselling services for teenagers Make sure that social workers and psychologists are available in schools

Children’s Rights legislation & policy in Wales 2004 Children Act – WAG adopted UNCRC as basis for all policy for children Seven core aims – based on UNCRC National Action Plan – Getting it Right 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 mental health workers Article 6 – right to life and to survive and develop healthily Article 12 – right to be heard Article 16 – right to privacy Article 24 – right to good quality healthcare Article 29 – Education should develop your personality to the full Article 31 – right to play

Think of a child …

Putting learning into practice

Any final questions?