This page gives you some information about your fundamental human rights and the rights that all children and young people are entitled to under the law.

Children and Young People have lots of rights and it is important that young people and adults know and recognise these rights and take them seriously. Knowing about your rights not only empowers you with information about what you are entitled to and how you are protected under the law, but also gives you information and power to help make informed choices in your life, i.e. about sexual health, substance misuse and making safe decisions about a range of issues such as domestic abuse, homelessness, crime, justice, medical treatment etc..

The right to feel safe

The right of all children and young people to be safe (from inhuman or degrading treatment, or torture or assault) is a cornerstone of law.

"Everyone has the right to feel safe!"

This means that everyone, no mater what colour, creed, religion, view point or status. Just like everyone has the right to freedom, the right to expression… everyone has the right to be safe, no matter who they are.

Apart from legal documents, which set a duty (something they have to do) on parents, teachers, youth workers, police, etc. to protect and safeguard children and young people, these ideas and principals exist for everyone in society as well.

You always have the right to, although these are not always set out in law:

• Be respected by those around you, family, friends and in any relationships you have.
• Be listened to and have your views heard.
• Say no to things you don’t want and not be pressured into doing things you don’t want, i.e. taking drugs, having sex.
• Express yourself and who you are no matter what colour, religion, sex/gender or sexuality you are.

However, with rights always come responsibilities. Those responsibilities mean that while your safety and rights should be guaranteed as members of society, as members of society you should also make sure that everyone around you feels safe as well, that their rights and yours are protected and given equal importance.

Children & Young People’s Rights

The main laws and regulations which safeguard you rights are defined by a series of important legal documents which include:

• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: This sets out the basic fundamental rights of all children in the world.
• The European Convention on Human Rights: This sets out and builds upon the rights of all children who live within the European Union.
• The Human Rights Act 1998: This is the main piece of legislation in the UK, which sets out the rights of all children living in the UK and includes sections such as, your rights and family care, education, youth justice, asylum, immigration and nationality)

But what does this all mean? It means that you have your rights set out and protected in law, which no one can change, affect or break. These rights include:

• The right to be healthy
• The right to be safe
• The right to freedom of expression
• The right to be heard
• The right to education
• The right to make a contribution to society

Other important documents which cover and set out people’s human rights in International Human Rights Law, include: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and others relating to racial discrimination, torture, rights of migrants, rights and status of refugees etc.

For more information about these rights see the links below to the. These websites will direct you to other links which can provide you with a range of information about your rights.

Where can you get advice and information about your rights?

There are several places in Brighton & Hove where young people can find out more and get advice about you rights and what you are entitled to. The list of links at the bottom of the page directs you to specific websites which can also give you more information about your rights and who you can contact for advice and information, i.e Children’s Rights Alliance England and the Children’s Legal Centre

Brighton & Hove Youth Advocacy & Participation (YAP)

YAP can give you general advice about children and young people's rights, and about who else in the city you can speak to about a range of issues.

YAP exists to enable and empower children and young people to speak out and be heard. Key services include:

• Support for children and young people who are in care, and to some other young people who are ‘in need’ in the city.
• The Independent Visiting Project, which recruits, screens, trains and supports adult volunteers to befriend and mentor young people who are in the care of by Brighton & Hove City Council.
• Support to participation groups and consultation activities, so that young people living in Brighton & Hove can have a voice with decision makers and services in the city.

To find out more contact:

11 Queens Square, Brighton, BN1 3FD

Tel: 01273 295510

Freephone: 0800 052 4280

Fax: (01273) 295529

Website: www.bhyap.org.uk

Alternatively you could speak to the Youth Advice Centre, Young People’s Centre or Safe and Sorted for advice about your rights. Or speak to your PSHE Co-ordinator or member of staff at your school or college.

You could also contact the Children’s Commissioner, a post which was created to promote the interests of young people and children all over England. To find out more about the Children’s Commissioner and what they do, see the download below.

Looked After Children and Children in Care

The rights of children and young people in care are very important. As such there are some specific places that children and young people who are in care or looked after by foster families can go for more information and advice.

The most important of these in Brighton and Hove is YAP, who can provide a range of services, advice and information about the rights of children in care and provide advocacy and support for them.

In addition you can find out more at the following places:

www.thewhocarestrust.org.uk/

The ‘Who Cares trust’ is a national charity working to improve public care for children and young people who are separated from their families and living in residential or foster care in the UK. They promote the interests of children and young people in public care and work with all those interested in their well-being to help protect their rights and improve services for them.

www.csci.org.uk/

The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) also have a Children’s Rights Commissioner, whose job it is to make sure the CSCI carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of children and young people in care.

www.rights4me.org/

The rights 4 me website is the Office of the Children’s Rights Director website for children and young people. The website is linked to the CSCI and provides children and young people who live away from home in either a children’s home, boarding school, residential special school, further education college or residential family centre, are in foster care, have been adopted, have left care, the oportunity to speak out about the services they receive.

Downloads

Summary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: This download gives young people more information about their rights as set out by the United Nations, which the UK have signed up to.

European Convention on the Rights of the Child: This download is similar to the UN Convention but refers to children’s rights as set out by the European Union, which the UK has signed up to.

Children’s Commissioner for England: This download gives more information about and how to contact the Children’s Commissioner for Engalnd.

Links

www.yourrights.org.uk/

This website aims to provide an easily understood guide to the Human Rights Act 1998, explaining its relevance and impact in many different areas of law ranging from rights of privacy to rights of peaceful protest.

www.connexions-direct.com/

The Connexions Direct website provides a range of information for young people, about a variety of issues involved in young people’s lives.

www.direct.gov.uk/

The Direct gov website gives you information about all public services in the UK, including information about parenting, rights, transport, education, a guide to government and much more.

www.adviceguide.org.uk/

The advice guide is an online Citizens Advice Bureaux service that provides independent advice on your rights - Offering practical, reliable, up-to-date information on a wide range of topics, including benefits, housing, employment and debt, consumer and legal issues.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Citizens Advice Bureaux provide free, confidential and independent advice from over 3,000 locations including in bureaux, GP surgeries, hospitals, colleges, prisons and courts. Their advice helps people resolve their debt, benefits, housing, legal, discrimination, employment, immigration, consumer and other problems and is available to everyone regardless of race, gender, sexuality, age, nationality, disability or religion. For more information visit their website.

www.childrenslegalcentre.com/

The Children's Legal Centre is a unique, independent national charity concerned with law and policy affecting children and young people. The Children's Legal Centre has many years of experience in providing legal advice and representation to children, their carers and professionals throughout the UK. They can help with information and advice about a range of children’s rights issues, free legal information Layers or solicitors for children and young people, advocacy for children and young people.

www.crae.org.uk/

The Children's Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) is a coalition of over 380 voluntary and statutory organisations committed to the full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. CRAE exists to transform the lives and status of children in England by seeking the full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights instruments.

www.nya.org.uk/

The National Youth Agency supports those involved in young people's personal and social development and works to enable all young people to fulfill their potential within a just society. The NYA aim to promote young people's participation, influence and place in society, improve and extend youth services and youth work and promote effective youth policy and provision.

www.unhchr.ch/

The Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights can provide you with more information about children’s rights including information about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.