A Rights Based Approach to Youth
Information
Rights
• What are human rights?
• Why children’s rights?
The UNCRC
• United Nations Convention on the Rights
of the Child
• Adopted by the UN in 1989
• Adopted by all except 2 countries in UN
• Contains 54 Articles
“The UNCRC intends to ensure that
children and young people grow up in a
safe, healthy world where they can
participate freely and realise their
potential”
UNICEF
Youth Information
• Directly linking Articles to Information and
Advice
• How do we support children and young
people to access entitlements?
Article 13
• Children have the right to get and share
information as long as the information is
not damaging to them or to others
Article 12
• Children have the right to say what
they think should happen, when
adults are making decisions that
affect them, and to have their opinions
taken into account.
– This is a gateway right, without which it
would be more difficult to access their other
rights
– Article 12 incorporates the principles and
practice of participation
The UNCRC in Wales
• 2001 - Introduction of first Children’s
Commissioner in UK
• 2002 – Extending Entitlement
• 2004 (Children Act) – Welsh Government
adopted UNCRC as a basis for all policy for
children
• Seven Core Aims – based on UNCRC
• 2011 - Children’s Rights Measure (Ministers
must pay due regard to UNCRC in all
decisions)
The UNCRC
• Rights into Action
Implementing the right to Education
• Government – obligation to define policy,
find and allocate resources, ensure
progress against targets is achieved.
• Institutions – obligation to train staff,
organise resources, create child friendly
environment.
• Educators – obligation to teach well,
encourage children to learn and access
their rights.
Rights into law – sexual health
• Young people have the right to access a full range of
contraceptive services.
• Fraser Guidelines apply in cases where the young
people are under 16
• Sexual and reproductive health services for young
people must be:
– confidential
– accessible
– free from judgement
– offer a complete range of services
Adopting a rights-based approach to youth work
• The UNCRC is relevant to our youth work
practice
• Access to information and advice
underpins all four pillars of the youth
work curriculum statement for Wales
Adopting a rights-based approach to youth work
(cont’d)
• Article 15 – the right to meet with other
children and join and form associations
• Article 29 – the right to an education which
prepares her/him for an active, responsible life
as an adult in a free society which respects
others and the environment
• Article 31 - the right to rest and leisure, to
engage in play and to participate in
educational, cultural and artistic activities.
• Article 34 - the right to protection from sexual
exploitation and abuse.
Rights-based activities for youth workers
• Make sure young people are aware of
their rights and how to access them
(Article 42)
• Young people have a say in all decisions
affecting them (Article 12) – encourage
young people to become part of a forum
• Agored Cymru Level 1 Children’s Rights
& Citizenship
Moving forward
• What are the problems associated with
effective access to information and
advice?
• How do we put young people at the heart
of defining what information and advice
they require?
• What formats are relevant to young
people today?
Moving forward
• Does anything change for young people?
• How do we know change is happening?
• How do we engage young people in
driving that change?
• Is it any easier to access services, or to
get the right support to access them?
Moving forward
• What are the impacts and outcomes for
young people?
• You may not see the fruits of youth
information work immediately.
• Importance of the integrity of this work
and to ensure that both they and you are
satisfied with the outcomes of the
process to date.
Moving forward
• What is understood by young people’s
involvement in development of
information and advice services?
Messages from young people
• “Don’t just listen – do something!”
Want to know more?
Here are some websites worth visiting
UNCRC Lets Get It Right
www.uncrcletsgetitright.co.uk
CLIC
www.cliconline.co.uk
Children’s Commissioner www.childcomwales.org.uk