Staff writer - Maureen Gordon
Do children and young people have rights: In many countries I believe children are deemed still to have little rights, they are exploited and abused and treated as second class citizens. But in others it is often thought that they may have too many rights. A blue print which outlines the rights of children all over the world is found in the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child. It is a document for all
countries to follow to ensure that their young people are able to grow up in a safe and supportive environment within their families and communities.
This is a summarised version of the rights of a child that I found in Jamaica based on this convention. This was very powerful and I believed conveyed the heart of Jamaica’s children and young people.
Children need parents that listen
Children need fathers
Discipline not beatings
Parents need to be their children’s first teacher
Children need to feel loved and protected
Children need parents that lead by example
In the U.K there are laws that govern legally what a child can do at a certain age: For example, would you allow your child to open a bank account and draw money from it at age 7, legally they can. At age 10 it is said that a child has full criminal responsibility for their actions and can be convicted of a criminal offence. At 14 children are deemed to be fully responsible for their actions and if they commit a criminal offence they will be treated the same as an adult. By 16 they can have sex, get married with parental consent and so on…
Child working. Photo courtesy southasia.oneworld.net
So in general can children determine what they can and cannot do without their parent’s consent? Yes then can depending on their age and understanding, that age is now as young as 12/13. This in my opinion can be a very sensitive situation, and cause many dilemmas for everyone involved in that young person’s welfare. For example, should the parents be told and if so what will be the consequences of them knowing this information about their child?
So children know their rights and they can often quote: you can’t stop me from doing this I know my rights” But can it not be too confusing if children are allowed to have so much power in deciding their future. It is my view that parents often feel that they no longer have a say in certain areas of their children’s life, all that power has been taken away from them.
What are your views on the rights of children, do you think they have too much say, or still too little, or on balance it is ok.
Do you think parents have lost the battle in having more say in deciding what they think is best for their children?
