Vocabulary

Dignity is the state or quality of being worthy of esteem or respect.
Fundamental Rights are a generally regarded set of legal protections in the context of a legal system, wherein such a system is itself based upon this same set of basic, fundamental, or inalienable rights. 
Life is the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death. It also includes the existence of an individual human being or animal.
Peace is freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility. It is also freedom from, or the cessation of war or violence.
Participation is the act of joining in an activity, or to be involved.
Universal is of, affecting, or done by all people or things in the world or in a particular group and is applicable to all cases.
Well-being is the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.

Purpose - 
Participation Rights

Picture
The right to life is a universal right for all human beings. Because it is a fundamental right, it governs all other existing rights. Other fundamental rights exist only when the right to life exists. For children, the right to life includes enabling children's participation rights so that they can act to uphold the right of all to a life of peace. This includes respecting the child's right to an identity, to freedom of expression, and to take action as an agent of change in the pursuit of social justice. In this sub-unit, children act with respect for the right to all to a dignified life.
Child Asks: How do my participation rights respect my right to life?
Children's Rights Education enables the child to act responsibly for the right to life during the exercise of participation rights. 
Child Answers: Participation rights fulfil my need to participate in a community.

Classroom Learning Activities

1. Participation Rights 
Use this material to review and expand on the Convention's Participation Rights including: Identity, Expression, Life, and Take Action. This material is available for purchase here.
Material Includes:
  • 15 rights image cards 
  • 15 rights text cards
  • 15 quotes cards
  • 15 individual rights labels
  • 3 general category cards: Provision, Protection, and Participation
  • Large Convention on the Rights of the Child title
Presentation Method:
  • Present image cards to a group of children - ask them to describe what they see
  • Read rights text cards one-at-a-time and children match them up to the image cards
  • Do the same with the quote cards
  • Children label the right and image cards
  • Then they categorize the rights into the 3 category groups
  • Discuss the rationale for their decisions
  • Discuss what responsibilities might come with the rights they are entitled to

Relevant Convention Articles

Article 1
For the purposes of the present Convention, a child means every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.
Article 6
1. States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life.
2. States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.
Article 12
1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.
2. For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.
Article 13
1. The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice.
2. The exercise of this right may be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary:
(a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; or
(b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.
Article 14
1. States Parties shall respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
2. States parties shall respect the rights and duties of the parents and, when applicable, legal guardians, to provide direction to the child in the exercise of his or her right in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child.
3. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
Article 15
1. States Parties recognize the rights of the child to freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assembly.
2. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of these rights other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Online Resources and References