Vocabulary

Advocacy involves speaking up for others to make sure that their rights are respected and their wishes are heard and acted upon by decision makers. It also involves taking part in decisions and matters that affect one's life.
Democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. Its principles are based on freedom, equality, and dignity.
Dignity is the state or quality of being worthy of respect or esteem.
Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.
Empowerment is a process that helps people gain control over their own lives and act on issues that are important to them. It is also a social process because it occurs in relationship to others.
Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.
Statement is a definite or clear expression of something in speech or writing.

Purpose - Advocate for Democracy

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Using the 3-Step-Tool to Empowerment, children identify a cause and write a statement of a situation worth advocating for that relates to the right of every child to democratic participation through freedom of expression.  Some children may wish to examine organizations that work for this right to ascertain whether they wish to accomplish this work collaboratively with the organization.
Child Asks: Where is there a community that needs to practice respect for freedom of expression?
Children's Rights Education enables the child to identify a community that needs to respect the right to freedom of expression.
Child Answers: I realize that some communities do not respect the right to expression.

Classroom Learning Activities

1. Identify a Community's Right to Expression
Students refer to the 3-Step-Tool to Empowerment to identify a cause worth advocating for that relates to a community's obligation to respect the right of every child to democratic participation through freedom of expression.  This includes the following process:
  1. Research a community to determine whether it denies children the right to freedom of expression. Children might decide to examine an organization that works to advocate for this right. 
  2. Identify why this community is not fulfilling its obligation to provide each child with the right to freedom of expression.  
  3. Write a Statement regarding the cause you are advocating for. 
3-Step-Tool Classroom Material available here.
Knowledge of rights guides the child to identify a cause worth advocating for. 
Go here to purchase this poster for your classroom.

Relevant Convention Articles

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.
Article 17
States Parties recognize the important function performed by the mass media and shall ensure that the child has access to information and material from a diversity of national and international sources, especially those aimed at the promotion of his or her social, spiritual and moral well-being and physical and mental health.
To this end, States Parties shall:
(a) Encourage the mass media to disseminate information and material of social and cultural benefit to the child and in accordance with the spirit of article 29;
(b) Encourage international co-operation in the production, exchange and dissemination of such information and material from a diversity of cultural, national and international sources;
(c) Encourage the production and dissemination of children's books;
(d) Encourage the mass media to have particular regard to the linguistic needs of the child who belongs to a minority group or who is indigenous;
(e) Encourage the development of appropriate guidelines for the protection of the child from information and material injurious to his or her well-being, bearing in mind the provisions of articles 13 and 18.

Online Resources and References