An introduction to children’s rights

Group activity

agenda What are human rights? Why children’s rights? The UNCRC Children’s rights in Wales Children’s rights for social workers Reflection and evaluation

Core Principles of Human Rights Universal Inalienable Indivisible Accountable

FREDA principles Fairness and freedom Respect Equality Dignity Autonomy

Why do children need separate rights? Maturity Voiceless and invisible Possessions

Wants, Needs and Rights Want - a desire for something Need - the state of requiring help, or of lacking basic necessities such as food Right - a moral or legal entitlement to have or do something

The 4 Components of a Right 1.The Rights Holder (a human being ) 2.The Object (the thing they have a right to) 3.The Obligated (people or institutions - “duty bearers”) 4.The Justification (greater human dignity, societal development, a peaceful society)

Reincarnation island

The UNCRC 54 articles 41 substantive articles 3 domains

4 underpinning rights Article 2 - No discrimination Article 3 - Best interests of the child Article 6 - Right to life Article 12 - Right to be heard

National Children and Young People’s Participation Standards 1. Information- which is easy for children and young people to understand 2. It’s Your Choice – enough information and time to make an informed choice 3. No Discrimination - every young person has the same chance to participate. 4. Respect- Your opinion will be taken seriously 5. You get something out of it- You will enjoy the experience 6. Feedback- You will find out what difference your opinion has made 7. Improving how we work- Adults will ask you how they can improve how they work for the future

Implementing the right to education - an example GovernmentHas an obligation to find & allocate resources, define policy, achieve progress against targets Education institutions Have an obligation to train teachers, organise resources, create a child friendly environment TeachersHave an obligation to teach well, to encourage parents, to support all children ParentsShould support their children’s learning Children and young people Should respect other children in order to support their peers to exercise their rights

The reporting process Every 5 years Reports to the UN: –UK Government (inc section by WAG) –NGO report –Young peoples report –Children’s Commisioners’ report (4 nations) Concluding observations WAG action plan Monitoring group

Coffee break

UN Concluding Observations 2008 most relevant to social workers 1 WAG/UK government must 1.There must be training on UNCRC for all adults working with children, including social workers 2.Use all available resources to protect a child’s right to life 3.Introduce automatic, independent and public inquiries into any unexpected child death or serious injury 4.Make sure respect for children’s views in the family and in institutions is promoted and put in practice 5.Promote respect for children’s views in court and other proceedings affecting children

UN Concluding Observations 2008 most relevant to social workers 2 WAG/UK government must 6.Make sure restraint is only used against children as a last resort, to prevent harm to the child 7.Ban all ways of physically restraining children for ‘discipline’ 8.Ban all physical punishment in the family 9.Make sure that physical punishment is clearly banned in care and other institutions 10.Make it less acceptable to smack children by promoting non- violent ways of disciplining children 11.Provide education and training on how to positively bring up children for parents and adults working with children

UN Concluding Observations 2008 most relevant to social workers 3 WAG/UK government must 12.Use UN Study on Violence against children to make sure every child is protected from all physical, sexual and mental violence 13.Offer more help to parents and guardians to raise children 14.Stop children being taken into care because their parents do not earn much money 15.Take children’s views into account in everything to do with the family or being in care 16.Monitor children living in foster care, children’s homes or institutions, and children who are looked after by other family members.

UN Concluding Observations 2008 most relevant to social workers 4 WAG/UK government must 17.Work out why so many children are in long-term care homes 18.Make sure contact proceedings can be started to allow children separated from their parents & siblings to keep in contact 19.Provide training and education to help prepare children living in care or institutions for adult life 20.Set up ways to check how many cases of abuse take place in family, schools, institutions and all types of care 21.Make sure social workers know about their duty to report and act on suspected domestic violence affecting children

UN Concluding Observations 2008 most relevant to social workers 5 WAG/UK government must 22.Make sure there are good services to help children who have been abused 23.Provide training for social workers who work with disabled children on children’s rights 24.Make sure that social workers are available in schools for children having problems with school 25.Make sure children living in care have someone to represent and defend their best interests 26.Make sure child protection rules for trafficked children meet international standards

Children’s Rights legislation & policy in Wales 2004 Children Act – WAG adopted UNCRC as basis for all policy for children Seven core aims – based on UNCRC National Action Plan – Getting it Right addressing 16 priorities for Wales Children and Families (Wales) Measure - passed in 2010 Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure - Ministers will have to pay due regard to the UNCRC in all decisions they take

Articles most relevant to social workers 1 Article 5 – respect the rights and responsibilities of families to direct and guide their children Article 6 – right to life and to survive and develop healthily Article 9 – right not to be separated from their parents unless it is for their own good and to stay in contact with both parents Article 12 – right to be heard and have a say in decisions affecting them Article 13 – right to get and share information Article 16 – right to privacy

Articles most relevant to social workers 2 Article 19 – protection from physical abuse and neglect Article 20 – if a child cannot be looked after by their parents, they must be looked after properly Article 25 – if in care, children should have their situation reviewed regularly Article 28 – right to education Article 34 – protection from sexual abuse Article 36 – protection from activities that could harm a child Article 39 –if a child has been abused, they should receive special help to restore self-respect

Think of a child …

Putting learning into practice

Any final questions?