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.
Agent of Change is one that acts or is empowered to act to uphold the rights of others so that change is made.
Application is the action of putting something into operation. 
Empowerment is a process that helps people gain control over their own lives and act on issues that are important to them. It is a social process because it occurs in relationship to others.

Purpose - Application of the 3-Step-Tool

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In this sub-unit, the children apply the 3-Step-Tool to Empowerment in the classroom. As this is the first time they are actually using this tool, it is more important that they familiarize themselves with the steps required in the process of advocacy. The emphasis should be on the process and not on the outcome. Please make sure that the children are practicing this in a safe environment that is rights-respecting.
Child Asks: How can I best use the 3-Step-Tool to Empowerment to become an agent of change?
Children's Rights Education: Provides the child opportunities to apply the 3-Step-Tool to Empowerment.
Child Answers: I can use the 3-Step-Tool to stay focused in the realization of children's rights.

Classroom Learning Activities

1. Applying the 3-Step-Tool:
  1. Present the 3-Step-Tool material in its entirety so that children are familiar with the sequence of actions required in advocacy.
  2. Using any of the 15 rights cards and current events from local, regional, national, or international events, have the children work in groups to practice the steps in the 3-Step-Tool. 
  3. Have the children present their Plan of Action using the 3-Step-Tool to Empowerment. It is important that this process be democratic where the rights outlined in Articles 12, 13, 14, and 15 are respected for all those involved in the process. 
To purchase a complete set of presentation materials for 3-Step-Tool go here.

2. Analyzing Other Advocates:
  1. Have the children analyze the process other advocates have used to reach their goal of social justice. 
  2. Evaluate whether their process is similar to the 3-Step-Tool.
  3. What are the differences and similarities?
This could be a class project where different children's rights advocates are examined for process.  

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.

Online Resources and References

UNICEF - Advocacy: People's Power and Participation Guide:This online toolkit provides workshop participants, UNICEF staff members and their partners with the opportunity to continue their learning after a UNICEF CEE/CIS workshop in Istanbul, in September 2009.. Moreover, the toolkit can be readily updated and adapted to the changing needs of the participants and the environments in which they work, and it is our intentions that UNICEF staff members and their partners will continue the learning process by reflecting on their experiences developing and conducting advocacy campaigns and adding new best practices, examples of successes and challenges, and improved tools to it. Within its pages, it:
  • Includes the latest advocacy theories and best practices,
  • Explores how to advance issue when ordinary channels may not be available, 
  • Incorporates proven advocacy examples from throughout the work and particularly the CEE/CIS region, and
  • Suggests links to other important online resources that expand the range of tools and experience that participants have access to and learn from.
The CEE/CIS region poses specific challenges for advocacy practitioners, and we hope that the Istanbul-based training to familiarize UNICEF country and regional offices with advocacy strategies in September 2009 as well as the provision of the copyrighted materials and additional resources within this toolkit will catalyze new opportunities and enable UNICEF staff and partners throughout region to weave advocacy strategies into our work.