Written by Sara Voort
Today, November 20th, is World Children’s Day. On this day Amnesty International stands for the human rights that involve children. There are currently about 2.3 billion children in the world, accounting for nearly a third of the total population. These children have human rights, just as adults do. Sadly, these rights are often violated and children aren’t always aware of the rights they have. To provide children with knowledge about the rights they have means to make them able to stand up and be heard.
On this day, there are about 2.3 billion children in the world, which comes to nearly a third of the total population.These children have human rights, just as adults do. These include the right to speak out and express opinions, the rights to equality, health, education, a clean environment, a safe place to live, and protection from all kinds of harm. Children’s rights are detailed in the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This convention seeks to protect children from harm, provide for their growth and development, and empower their participation in society. Article 42 of the Convention calls for the education of children and adults about children’s rights, but this rarely happens.
One of the principles addressed in the Convention is that children have the right to participate in all decisions that affect them. Just like adults, children have the right to voice their opinions and protest about them. This right is used all over the world to protest about climate change, demand racial equality, and address injustice. Yet, unfortunately, children’s perspectives are too often overlooked or dismissed.
How are children’s rights violated?
Around the world, children’s rights are violated every day. The exposure to human rights violations is especially high with children and young people because they are often inherently dependent on adults. This can especially heighten the risk of poverty, malnourishment, and abuse.
Each and every one of these children’s rights are infringed upon. Sometimes, this can start from the moment a child is born. One example is that an estimated 290 million children globally have not had their births registered, meaning they have no legal identity or proof of existence. As a result, the possibility for these children to claim several rights becomes nearly impossible. Additionally, this lack of proof may hinder a child’s ability to go to school, receive healthcare or get a job when they are older.
Worldwide, over 61 million children do not attend primary school. In some countries, girls are forced into marriage at the young age of nine years old, and children as young as six are convicted as adults in criminal courts. Additionally, at least 330,000 children, in 80 different countries, are held in immigration detention every year for the sole reason that they are a migrant or a refugee. In custody, these children are often forcibly separated from their families.
Know Your Rights and Claim Them
To help children and teenagers understand, exercise, and acknowledge the rights they have, actress Angelina Jolie and Professor Geraldine Van Bueren QC joined forces with Amnesty International to write a book titled Know Your Rights and Claim Them.
The book explains the content of the UNCRC, providing its intended audience, teenagers, with the knowledge they need to protect themselves and others. It also shows how governments are failing to uphold their shared commitment to children’s rights. Jolie said about the matter: “If governments kept their word, and if all adults respected children’s rights, there would be no need for this book. Children have rights just as adults do and they should have the power and agency to claim them. […] It’s time to remind the world of its commitment to children’s rights.” The authors want this book to be published in all languages and countries. They hope the book provides teenagers with the knowledge that they need to stand up for their rights and be heard.
Know Your Rights and Claim Them begins by explaining the concept of children’s rights and the creation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1989. Additionally, the book contains how-to guides and many stories of incredible young activists who have participated in human rights changes around the world. Despite the many disparate campaigns (climate change, worldwide education, racial discrimination, gun violence, etc.), these activists demonstrate the power of standing up for what you believe in.
Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General said about the book Know Your Rights and Claim Them: “[...] we need to make sure that children are setting the agenda for the years to come. That can only happen if they know their rights and how to claim them. […] When children don’t, they’re at risk of abuse, discrimination, and exploitation, often at the hands of adults. They’re also at risk of being overlooked, unable to participate in important decisions about the world they live in and the problems they will inherit. Amnesty International is campaigning to ensure children’s rights are a priority for governments across the world.”
Human rights education courses
Alongside the book Know Your Rights and Claim Them, Amnesty International also launched an online human rights education course featuring young activists. According to Callamard, this course “will serve as a powerful tool to empower young people and others to claim their rights around the world. When young people are educated about their rights, they are empowered to defend them, to stand up against injustice against themselves and others. Knowledge is key. We will all benefit from a world in which child rights are upheld.”
There are also courses available for instruction in primary and secondary schools in the Netherlands. Even though several human rights (such as freedom of speech, the rights to choose one’s own religion) seem to be guaranteed in this country, but, sadly, this isn’t always the case. Children often encounter human rights violations from a young age because of television, internet, and social media. It’s important for them to develop the ability to understand these events, to have opinions about them and to express these opinions. For this reason, children need to know what human rights entail and how to recognize their own rights, as well as any potential violations of them. With high quality educational material and guest lecturers that followed an extensive training, thousands of students of primary and secondary schools are educated about human rights and the violations of them. Amnesty can provide these courses to help children and teachers to raise more awareness on human rights. Are you interested in receiving more information? Click here! If you are interested in taking the online human rights education course, for free, go to: https://academy.amnesty.org/learn.
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