1. A Brief Guide to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
About UNICEF.
UNICEF was set up in 1946 as a response to the crisis in post war Europe.
UNICEF is the world’s children’s rights organisation, working globally to help every child reach their full potential.
About UNICEF.
UNICEF was set up in 1946 as a response to the crisis in post-war Europe.
It renamed in 1953 to recognise it’s new role in long-term development work in developing and post colonial countries.
Give example of rod and fish.
Define role - OHP
So what does UNICEF mean by Rights?
Childreny reply the right of free speech.
In this country we have a poor concept of what rights really are.
e.g. Germany, USA, Brazil and Bangladesh
POSTER ACTIVITY Which do you think are the most important rights
globally?
nationally?
in your school?
P. Johnson v.2004

2. Why teach about Rights? …means learning about responsibilities.
A Brief Guide to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Why teach about Rights?
…means learning about responsibilities.
…is empowering for teachers and pupils alike.
…is an active process of learning.
…is a practical framework to teach children about being citizens.
…reinforces values that teachers always insist upon in their schools.
Using the CRC as part of the PHSE/C guidelines presents us with a contradiction. It is a challenge and at the same time reassuring.
CHALLENGE because to take citizenship and rights in to your classrooms and your schools will make a difference to the children you teach.
empowers children will give them a different range of experience and out comes as part of their educational life.
Education in the 21st Century is going to be very different from the last one. The challenge is to manage this change.
REASSURING because when we teach citizenship and rights, we are just making more explicit those thing we do already as primary teachers.
The PHSE/C guidelines are the justification for all those thing we knew as PST were important to develop the whole child
P. Johnson v.2004

3. Why teach Children’s Rights?
Human rights cannot be taught in a vacuum.
The UNCRC is the appropriate charter for children to learn about because it deals with their rights.
The UNCRC is a set of universal values that your pupils share with every child in the world.
The UNCRC provides a values framework for Citizenship and PHSE, the school’s ethos and rules.

4. The Convention on the Rights of the Child.
A Brief Guide to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
The Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Unanimously adopted by the United Nations on 20th November 1989.
Ratified by 191 out of 193 countries.
Each country reports back every 5 years.
The CRC - explain the details
RATIFICATION - means has been accepted by the legislative body of a nation. Govts have to review national legislation, policy and practice to ensure compliance with its provisions.
First report back is 2 years after ratification.
54 articles and provides targets for countries to strive towards and inform their policies towards children.
Meeting children’s rights can do much to relieve poverty and improve the quality of life - even if it is not in financial terms
universal and international- building between nations and cultures.
most appropriate for children.
Hand out TEXT of Article 29
decide upon one aspect that you think is important
Build session up along these priorities.
P. Johnson v.2004

5. A Brief Guide to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
What rights?
Survival Rights: the child’s right to life and the fulfilment of their most basic needs, including food, shelter and access to health care and clean water.
Development Rights: enable a child to reach their full potential, includes education and play, to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
History of Childrens Rights.
CRC was adopted by the UN.
Ratified by 191 out of 193 countries.
54 articles and provides targets for countries to strive towards and inform their policies towards children.
Meeting children’s rights can do much to relieve poverty and improve the quality of life - even if it is not in financial terms
These rights can be grouped into 4 main types of rights: those concerned with Survival, development, protection and participation.
Overview of the CRC OHPs
universal and international- building between nations and cultures.
most appropriate for children.
enabling - teaching and learning about Human rights in schools cannot be done in a vacuum
P. Johnson v.2004

6. A Brief Guide to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
What Rights?
Protection Rights: require that children be protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Participation Rights: the freedom of expression, which allows children to take an active part in their communities and nations
Using the CRC as part of the PHSE/C guidelines presents us with a contradiction. It is a challenge and at the same time reassuring.
CHALLENGE because to take citizenship and rights in to your classrooms and your schools will make a difference to the children you teach.
empowers children will give them a different range of experience and out comes as part of their educational life.
Education in the 21st Century is going to be very different from the last one. The challenge is to manage this change.
REASSURING because when we teach citizenship and rights, we are just making more explicit those thing we do already as primary teachers.
The PHSE/C guidelines are the justification for all those thing we knew as PST were important to develop the whole child
I want to look at where the CRC fits into the PHSE/C framework and how the CRC can be a valuable framework for citizenship education
P. Johnson v.2004

7. The UK and the Convention.
A Brief Guide to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
The UK and the Convention.
UK ratified on 16th December 1991.
Reservations held in 2004:
Refugees and Asylum Seekers. The UK government will not give all the rights set out under the UNCRC to children who are asylum seekers or refugees.
Young offenders. The UK government does not feel that it is a position to ensure that all young people under 18 can be kept in custody (prison) separately from adults.
What about the UK?
Explain about the reservations
A RESERVATION IS WHERE A GOVT DOES NOT WISH OR IS UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE CRC IN A SPECIFIC MATTER.
‘FACTORS AND DIFFICULTIES IMPEDING
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS RIGHTS
PROVIDED FOR IN THE CONVENTION.’
RESERVATIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE AS LONG AS THEY ARE ‘NOT INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE OBJECT AND AND PURPOSE OF THE PRESENT CONVENTION.
Immigration - UK deems that legislation should only affect those who under British law have a right to enter and remain in the UK.
Young Offenders - kept in adult jails. Lack of facilities or mutually beneficial mixing of adults and children.
P. Johnson v.2004

8. Teaching the Convention...
‘A breadth of effective learning opportunities:’
Activity learning
Enquiry
Discussion
Participation
Working together
Making decisions
Taking responsibility
Reflecting on their experience