RIGHTS

Children and Adolescents of Belize, do you know your rights?

It is very important that you learn about

your rights and responsibilities! RIGHTS

WHY? So that you can:

Know your rights and respect the rights of others Know what the responsibilities are that go along with each right Be sure that others do not take advantage of you

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) tells everyone what children’s rights are all about and why no one can take them away from you. Let’s Learn About Your Rights! Everyone under 18 years old has these rights! You have the right to know your rights. Adults should know about these rights and help you learn about them too! You have these rights, whoever you are, whoever your parents are, whatever colour you are, whatever religion you practice, whatever language you speak, whether you are a girl or boy, whether you have a disability or if you are rich or poor. All adults should do what is best for you. When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decision will affect you. You have many rights and these rights come under four groups:

1. Developmental Rights 3. Survival Rights

1 2. Participation Rights 4. Protection Rights

You have the right to live with

your parent(s), unless it is harmful to you. You have the right to live with a family who cares for you.

You have the right to a good enough standard of living. This means that your parents should make sure you have food, clothes, a place to

live, etc. If your parents cannot afford this, then the government should help.

You have the right to be alive.

Your family should help you to learn about your rights

and ensure that your rights are protected.

You have the right to a nationality, and to belong

to a country. Some of the responsibilities that come along with your survival rights are: Some of the responsibilities that come along with your survival rights are:

• You have a responsibility to practice a healthy lifestyle; for example, you should get enough sleep at night and try not eat

a lot of junk food.

• You have a responsibility to practice a healthy lifestyle; for example, you should get enough sleep at night and try not eat

a lot of junk food. • You should do your best to take care of your clothes, toys, school books and

other possessions. • You should do your best to take care of your clothes, toys, school books and

other possessions. • Be respectful of your parents/guardians or other adults who take care of

you. • Be respectful of your parents/guardians or other adults who take care of

you. • Be careful when you are out on the street. Try to practice all the safety

rules that you know. • Be careful when you are out on the street. Try to practice all the safety

rules that you know.

• Do your best to respect and take care of all living things like the forest, the animals and the sea.

• Do your best to respect and take care of all living things like the forest, the animals and the sea.

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You have the right to a name and identity – an official record of who you are, like a

birth certificate or passport. No one should take this away from you.

If you live in a different country from your parents,

you have the right to be reunited.

Both parents should be involved in raising you, even if they do not live together. They

should do what is best for you.

You have the right to special care and help if

you cannot live with your parents.

If you have to be adopted, adults should

make sure that it is arranged in a way that is

best for you.

You have the right to the best health care possible, safe water to drink, nutritious food and a safe

clean environment and, information to help you stay well.

• Remember your parent’s/guardian’s advice when they tell you not to do something or not to go somewhere. It might not be safe.

• Be proud of your family, where they come from, your colour and race,

the special foods that you eat, the songs that you sing and the language you speak.

• You should appreciate the things that your parents can afford to give

you.

• Appreciate and love yourself because you are a special person.

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You have the right to protection from any kind of exploitation, which means being taken advantage of.

You have the right to privacy. Others should respect and protect

your privacy.

You should not be kidnapped, and if you are, the government should do

their best to get you back.

If you have been hurt or neglected in any way, you have the right to special

care and treatment. You have the right to be protected from sexual abuse. This means that nobody can do

anything to your body that makes you feel uncomfortable. This also means that nobody should be allowed to touch your private parts

or take naked pictures of you or have you look at pictures of naked people, or even make you

say things that you don’t want to say.

If you are refugee (meaning you have to leave your own country

because it is not safe for you to live there) you have the right to special protection and help.

Some of the responsibilities that come along with your participation rights are:

• If you are being hurt or abused, you should talk to an adult who can help you.

• Be sure to tell the truth, even if you feel afraid.

• Do your best to learn about the laws of the country in which you live.

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If you live in foster care or in other situations away from home, you

have the right to have these living arrangements looked at regularly to see if it is the best place for you.

If you have a disability, either mental or physical,

you have the right to special care and education to help you grow up in the same

way as other children.

No one should hurt you in any way. Adults should make sure that you are protected

from abuse, violence and neglect. Even your parents have no right to hurt you.

Even if you do something wrong, no one is allowed to punish you in a way that

humiliates you or hurts you badly. You should never be put in prison except as a

last resort. If you have to be in prison, you have the right to special care and

visits from your family.

You have the right to be protected from the use of illegal and harmful drugs, and from the

business of making and selling drugs.

You have the right to protection in times of war. If you are under 15 years,

you should never have to be in the army or take part in war. In Belize,

you can’t be a soldier until you are 18 years.

• You should not use drugs. If it is being offered to you, move away from where it is located and talk to an adult who can help you to get more information about it.

• If you are in foster care, you should speak truthfully about the type of

care you are receiving.

• You should respect the privacy of others.

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Some of the responsibilities that come along with your developmental rights are:

• Do your homework, study and listen to your teacher. Pay attention in class and try not to disrupt, for example,

talking out of turn, playing in class, or walking around. • Be sure to do your chores because it is important that you also help around

the house. • Show kindness and respect when playing or doing work with others. • Ask for help when you are afraid or have problems. • Try to follow all your school rules and the laws of Belize.

You have the right to a good quality education.

You should be encouraged to go to

school up to the highest level that you can.

Your education should help you use and

develop your talents and abilities. It should also

help you to live peacefully, protect the

environment and respect other people.

You have the right to protection from work that harms you and is bad for your health or keeps you

from attending school.

If you are old enough to work, according to the Laws of Belize,

you have the right to be safe and to be paid fairly.

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You have the right to play and rest.

You have the right to get information that is important to your well-being

from radio, newspaper, books, computers, and other sources. Adults

should make sure that the information you are getting is not harmful and help

you find and understand the information you need.

You have the right to practice your own religion and beliefs. Your parents should help you decide what is best for you.

If you come from a minority group, you have the right to

enjoy your own culture, practice your own religion

and use your own language.

You have the right to find out things and to say what you think

through speaking, writing, art, and other ways, unless it goes against the rights of others. You have the right to defend

yourself if you have been accused of committing a crime. The police and lawyers and judges in court should treat you fairly and make sure you

understand what is going on.

You have the right to choose your own friends and join or set up groups, as long as it

isn’t harmful to you or others. You have the right to

give your opinion and for adults to take it seriously.

Some of the responsibilities that come along with your participation rights are:

• You should state your opinion and speak up, but do so in a respectful way. • You have a responsibility to choose friends and join groups that will have a

positive effect on you. • You should listen to what your parents have to say and respect their opinion. • You -should try to learn about the different cultures and religions and respect

other people’s culture and religion as well. • You have the responsibility to read only those books, watch only those TV

programmes, play only those video games and visit only those websites that will have a positive effect on you.

• You should try to find other ways of solving disagreements other than through violence. 7

These are your rights and no one should take them from you. Your parents and other adults in your life should help you to understand what these rights mean. Children and Adolescents of Belize, now that you know your rights and responsibilities, you must put them into practice. You must also do your best to remember that rights come with responsibilities.

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(Back Cover)

For more information, please contact:

The National Committee for Families and Children 62 Cleghorn Street Belize City, Belize

Tel: (501)223-0059/ 223-1180 Fax: (501) 223-1229 Email: ncfc@btl.net

And listen to

The Kid O’ Rama Show Saturdays at 8:30 am

On LOVE FM

(inside cover)

Published: November 2004

National Committee for Families and Children

Adapted from “United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child In Child Friendly Language (Giraffe Talk)” and UNICEF’s – “Know Your Rights! Children’s Rights in Plain English”