Module 2 The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: A Foundation for a Child Rights Approach Module Goal The

goal of this module is to introduce and analyze the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Learning Objectives 1. To gain awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (the Convention); 2. To identify and understand the types and categories of rights contained in the Convention, and appreciate its holistic nature; 3. To explore the value and opportunities for implementation of child rights in your country through an assets-based lens, examining strengths, weaknesses, gaps, constraints, supporting factors and opportunities to fulfill the rights of all children. Overview This module introduces the background, content, and status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention is central to developing and applying a child rights approach to professional life. It not only identifies children as being born with fundamental freedoms and human rights, but also serves as a foundation to foster the well-being and healthy learning and development of children and their communities. The aim of this module is to familiarize participants with the Conventions key principles and their universality, indivisibility and interdependence and to prepare participants to apply the Convention in their professional, civic, and personal lives. Participants will be asked to: Activity 2.1 Review critical information about child rights, including the history, purpose, development, fundamental principles, and organization of the Convention, in addition to information about the meaning, purpose, and expectation (including fundamental principles and how the Convention is organized), and about the current status of child rights, both internationally and locally. Activity 2.2 Work together to explore the current status of child rights in participants community (or communities).

Activity 2.1: Introduction to Child Rights Materials: PowerPoint presentation on the Convention (see Appendix) Handouts: PH 2.1a, The Convention: An Unofficial Summary Document PH 2.1b, The Convention (full text) PH 2.1c, The Convention: Guiding Principles and Organization PH 2.1d, Child Rights: International Status Update PH 2.1e, Child Rights: Local Status Update

Objectives: 1. To gain awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (the Convention); 2. To identify and understand the types and categories of rights contained in the Convention, and appreciate its holistic nature. Instructions: Present the overview of the Convention contained in the Powerpoint presentation. History, Guiding Principles, an organizational scheme for the Conventions articles and the current status of childrens rights are discussed. Solicit and answer questions from participants. Discussion: N/A

Activity 2.2: Child Rights in My Community Materials: N/A Handouts: PH 2.1d, Child Rights: International Status Update PH 2.1e, Child Rights: Local Status Update

Objectives: 1. To explore the value and opportunities for implementation of child rights in your country through an assets-based lens, examining strengths, weaknesses, gaps, constraints, supporting factors and opportunities to fulfill the rights of all children. Instructions: 1. Divide participants into small groups. The facilitator should use his/her discretion when creating discussion groups. For example, if there are groups of participants who typically work together or in the same community, the facilitator may wish to assign people to groups for purposes of common interests/homogeneity or divide them to create more diversity of opinion and experience in groups. 2. Groups should discuss all questions, considering child rights in group members community or communities. The facilitator should base the definition of community on the makeup of the participant group. Community can refer to the local community, city, state, region, country, or larger region. The facilitator may choose to have the group define community for the purposes of this activity, and/or ask participants to consider the questions at different levels (i.e., local community, specific organization, city, country, etc.). Discussion Questions: 1. Which five rights are most supported and which five rights are most violated or neglected for children in your community? 2. Why do you think these rights are more supported or more violated than others? 3. What are supports and barriers to the promotion/protection of child rights? 4. Are there particular groups of children who are more discriminated against in the exercise of their rights? Are there groups of children whose rights are more supported than others? Why? 5. Who is supporting child rights in your country/community? Are there individuals, groups, or institutions whose practices threaten or undermine child rights? 6. Can you think of a key issue facing your country (possibly in

government, community, etc.) that could be seen as an opportunity to improve the status of child rights? Describe. If time allows, an extended discussion of this topic would serve as a jumping-off point for exploration of advocacy activities in later modules.

Conclusion The Convention on the Rights of the Child promotes a philosophy of respect for children. While acknowledging that children are entitled to special protection and care, the Convention also insists that they are entitled to participate, in accord with their age and competence, in the protection and promotion of their own rights. In addition, the Convention places responsibilities on governments and other adults to take all necessary action to ensure the realization of all rights for all children. In summary: The Convention on the Rights of the Child is a comprehensive treaty encompassing civil and political as well as social, economic and cultural rights. These rights emanate from childrens basic needs and create a set of common standards necessary for optimal well-being, health and development. It is legally binding on all countries that have ratified it. Governments are required under international law to take all necessary measures to implement its provisions. It provides a universal set of standards against which to measure and improve the treatment of children. Rights are universal and inter-dependent. They must be implemented in an integrated and holistic way. The Convention poses a challenge to traditional approaches to children, which have viewed them as incompetent, passive objects of adult protective care. Instead, it acknowledges children as both capable of and entitled to active participation in decisions that affect their lives. Although there are no formal sanctions that can be brought against governments for failing to comply with its provisions, the process of reporting status and progress to the Committee on the Rights of the Child is an invaluable mechanism for monitoring how a State Party (national government) is complying. It provides an opportunity for all those involved in childrens well-being, learning, and development to work together toward improving standards. Implementation of the rights contained in the Convention would herald a fundamental change in the status of children in all societies in the world and help ensure their optimal well-being, learning, and development. 4

In creating a set of standards by which we can measure and improve the treatment of children, the Convention both underscores the importance of school-based mental health services and provides school psychologists with a framework and goals for practice. The Conventions individual articles are important to consider and understand, but a summary such as this may also be helpful: 1. All children have the right to life, survival, protection and development. 2. All children should be treated equally irrespective of gender, caste, creed, race, economic or family background, or physical and mental ability. 3. When making decisions regarding children, the well-being, learning, and development (best interests) of the child should be a primary consideration. 4. Childrens opinions should be taken into account in all decisions concerning them. Childrens views should always be sought and the weight given childrens views should generally increase as they get older and have more experience respecting evolving capacity). 5. An understanding of childrens development within relevant contexts is fundamental. 6. Supporting what is working is more effective than fixing what is broken (drawing from child, family and community strengths and assets). 7. Children and how they realize their rights must be considered in context. Child rights cannot be considered in isolation of their families, communities and culture.

Appendices for Module 2

Handouts
PH 2.1a, The Convention: An Unofficial Summary Document (attached) PH 2.1b, The Convention (full text) (attached) PH 2.1c, The Convention: Guiding Principles and Organization (TBD) PH 2.1d, Child Rights: International Status Update* (TBD) PH 2.1e, Child Rights: Local Status Update** (TBD)
*Participant Handout 2.1d (Child Rights: International Status Update) was constructed using information published by UNICEF on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Convention (available at http://www.unicef.org/rightsite/sowc/). **Participant Handout 2.1e (Child Rights: Local Status Update) can be constructed by the facilitator using the template provided (in handouts) and information from the UNICEF website, http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html.

PowerPoint presentation
Draft attached

Readings/Resources
TBD

Handout 2.1

The Convention: An Unofficial Summary Document

Article 1-definition of child (under 18 years) Article 2-freedom from discrimination Article 3- best interests considered and protected Article 4-States must undertake measures to implement the CRC to the maximum extent of their available resources Article 5-provision of parental guidance and direction in a manner consistent with the childs evolving capacity Article 6-right to life and maximum survival and development Article 7-right to a name, nationality, and to know and be cared for by parents Article 8-preservation of identity, name, nationality, and family relations Article 9-right to not be separated from parents without having their views known Article 10-right to enter or leave a country for family reunification Article 11-protection from abduction abroad Article 12-right to be listened to and taken seriously Article 13-freedom of expression Article 14-freedom of thought, conscience, and religion Article 15- freedom of association Article 16-right to privacy Article 17-right to information and role of media to this end Article 18-parents joint responsibilities assisted by the State Article 19-right to protection from all forms of violence Article 20-right to special protection for children deprived of their family environment Article 21-right to have their best interests protected during adoption Article 22-right to protection and humanitarian assistance for refugee children Article 23-right of disabled children to dignity, self-reliance and the facilitation of their active participation in the community Article 24-right to health and health services Article 25-right of children in physical and mental health facilities to periodic review of their treatment Article 26-right to benefit from social security Article 27-right to an adequate standard of living Article 28-right to education and school discipline Article 29-right to education that promotes full development of potentials, respect for human rights, identity and democracy Article 30-right of minority or indigenous children to their culture, language and religion Article 31-right to leisure and play Article 32- right to appropriate working conditions and freedom from hazardous work Article 33-right to be protected from drug use, production and trafficking Article 34- right to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse Article 35-right to protection from abduction, sale, and trafficking of children Article 36-right to protection from all other forms of exploitation Article 37-right to protection from torture, degrading treatment, and deprivation of liberty Article 38-right to protection for children in armed conflict Article 39-right of recovery and reintegration for child victims Article 40-rights of children in the juvenile justice system Article 41-protects respect for existing human rights standards