Intro to CHYS Week 5

Introduction to Child and Youth Studies Week 5 Review

United Nations Conventions of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

International treaty that recognizes the human rights of children under 18, legally binding document with 54 articles outlining rights of a child

Non-discrimination guiding principle

Article 2 — protection from all forms of discrimination or punishment

Best interest of the child guiding principle

Article 3 — in all actions concerning children, the best interest of the child must be a primary consideration

Rights to life guiding principle

Article 6 — every child has the inherent right to life

Participation guiding principle

Article 12 — the right to express views in all matter affecting the child

Three conditions to be met before children can participate

Seen as competent by adults to hold a view, be old/mature enough to have a view, only have a right for a view If adults judge that they meet other conditions

The three P’s

Identifies three main forms of rights for children: participation, protection, provision

Participation right

In decisions made about their upbringing and care, in matters concerning them

Protection right

From exploitation and abuse

Provision right

Of appropriate support and services for their healthy development, the right to make decisions about their health

Meaningful participation

Ongoing process, includes information sharing dialogue between children and adults, based on mutual respect, children can learn how their views and those of adults are taken into account

Tokenism

Adults may listen but what they actually say will not affect any planning or decision making

Exclusion

Not incorporating or accommodating for children of different needs such as disabilities

Inequality

Participation is not able to be equal

Lack of sustainability

Instead of having a monthly meeting with children, may only occur once a year

Weak accountability

On the side of the adults involved, having interviews with children to support in areas of research, then never reaching out to them with what the findings were

Activism

Can foster a sense of inclusion and belonging to a community of peers that think alike, have similar aims, and share a feeling of being left out of mainstream structures

Shier model of participation

Helps adults reflect on how to work with people, how they can promote childs participation, shows obligations adults must meet when children meaningfully participate

Childs rights paradigm shift

Moving from “objects of protection” to “subjects of rights” we have to protect children as they are more vulnerable because of their development

Moving from voice to equitable participation

Voice is about being heard, while participation is about having a say that matters, involved power-sharing respect for children capacity and agency