A Rights Based Approach to Youth Information

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A Rights Based Approach to Youth Information
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Rights

• What are human rights?
• Why childrens rights?

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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

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• 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

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Youth Information

• Directly linking Articles to Information and
  Advice
• How do we support children and young people to
  access entitlements?

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Article 13

• Children have the right to get and share
  information as long as the information is not
  damaging to them or to others

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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

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The UNCRC in Wales

• 2001 - Introduction of first Childrens
  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 - Childrens Rights Measure (Ministers must
  pay due regard to UNCRC in all decisions)

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The UNCRC

• Rights into Action

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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.

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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

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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

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Adopting a rights-based approach to youth work
(contd)

• 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.

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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 Childrens Rights
  Citizenship

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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?

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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?

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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.

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Moving forward

• What is understood by young peoples involvement
  in development of information and advice services?

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Messages from young people

• Dont just listen do something!

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Want to know more? Here are some websites worth
visiting UNCRC Lets Get It Right
www.uncrcletsgetitright.co.uk CLIC www.cliconline
.co.uk Childrens Commissioner
www.childcomwales.org.uk