The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an international agreement of child rights that came into force on 2 September 1990, 32 years ago. It is the single most ratified human rights treaty ever with 196 countries agreeing to be legally bound to abide by it.
Australia signed the agreement on 22 August 1990 and ratified it on 17 December later that year, so as a country we have agreed that the articles in this convention are rights of all young people in this country and to uphold them.
These rights apply to everyone under 18, regardless of who they are, where they’re from, their race, religion, abilities or views. The rights included in the treaty range from freedom of expression and right to education, healthcare and safety to the right to protection from abuse and to not be separated from family (unless it is the best option).
There are 54 articles in total, as the peak body representing young people in SA, we particularly focus on two articles in our role.
Those are Article 12:
States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.
For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.
In short – children and young people have the right to have a say in the decisions that affect them, and to have their opinions taken into account.
And Article 13:
The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice.
The exercise of this right may be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary:
(a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; or
(b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.
In short – children and young people have the right to receive and share information, as long as it’s not damaging to themselves or someone else.
They kind of go hand in hand, your right to access information and to participate in decision making have a lot of overlap and the upholding of each of these rights can strengthen the other.
You can find a simplified version of all the articles here.
