2. Grouping children’s rights into four dimensions

Living Democracy » Textbooks » Exploring Children’s Rights » Part 3: Documents and Teaching Materials » 2. Grouping children’s rights into four dimensions

The Convention on the Rights of the Child can be subdivided into four groups of rights. These cat­egories can be used in lessons by allowing pupils to try to order the rights into these four categories. This could be done individually or in groups for each section.

I. Playing a part – means being able to take part in decision-making processes, the freedom to form groups, freedom of thought, and the freedom to gain access to information from a range of sources.

II. Reaching our potential – means that particu­lar conditions must be fulfilled in order for optimal personal development to take place. Included in this group of rights are: education, family, culture and identity as important parts of our lives.

III. Living well – The right to survival comprises our basic needs. These include food and protec­tion, standard of living and health.

IV. Being free from harm – means that young people have a right to protection against abuse, neglect, economic exploitation, torture, abduction and prostitution.

In the following list, the children are ordered into these four categories:

Group

Article

Abbreviated title

I. Playing a part: our right to participate

3

The well-being of the child is paramount

12

The child’s freedom of opinion

13

Freedom of expression

14

Freedom of thought, conscience and religion

15

Right to peaceful public gathering

16

Protection of privacy

17

Access to appropriate information

II. Reaching our potential: our right to develop who we are

5

Respect of parental rights

7

Name and state membership

8

Protection of identity

10

Family reunification

21

Adoption

23

Disabled children

28

Education

29

Educational aims

30

Children of minorities

III. Living well: our right to survival

6

Survival and development of the child

9

Separation of parents

18

Responsibility of parents

24

Health and medical services

26

Social security

27

Standard of living

31

Rest, play and free time

IV. Being free from harm: our right to protection

2

Non-discrimination

11

Protection from kidnapping and abduction

19

Protection from abuse

20

Young people without families

22

Refugee children

25

Review of treatment or care

32

Child labour

33

Protection form narcotic drugs

34

Protection from sexual exploitation

35

Protection from sale and trafficking

36

Protection from all other forms of exploitation

37

Torture and imprisonment

38

War and armed conflict

39

Rehabilitation and integration

40

Juvenile justice

In In the above table, four rights are missing. They cannot be ordered into any of the four categories, as they focus mainly on the responsibilities of the state. These are:

1

Definition of the child

4

Implementation of rights

41

Higher national standards have priority

42

Disclosure of children’s rights