Your Say Child Rights
All Children have rights which are protected under the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child). Children and young people have a right to express their opinions and to have their voices heard.
Everyone working in government and public services must do everything they can to help children to know about and enjoy their rights.
Your Say Child Rights Workshops and Event
28 organisations across Derry and Strabane District delivered Child Rights workshops with young people in their safe space in September 2023.
Over 170 young people aged 10-18 came together with decision makers and politicians at the Guildhall on 6th October 2023. The aim of the Your Say workshops and event was to support young people to.
• Be more aware of Child Rights
• Understand the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child)
• Tell us what is important, where rights are/ are not being respected
• Meet and speak directly to decision makers/ politicians
Some examples of Child Rights statements are shared below
Article 4. Making Rights Real. Article 42. Everyone must know children’s rights
“More awareness building and education of the adults who are working directly with young people, so they are aware of these rights” Children also need to know their rights “how can we make sure we’re getting these rights if we don’t know them”.
Article 2. No Discrimination
“Everyone should have access to transport” financial poverty leads to an even bigger imbalance for those living in rural locations in comparison to urban locations.
Article 30. Minority Culture, Language and Religion. Article 8. Identity. Article 2. No Discrimination
“Everyone has the right to their own identity, no one should take this away from them, but it is being taken away from some of us here” a young person explained his right to identify as Irish and speak in Irish without this being viewed as sectarian.
Article 12. Respect for Childrens Views. Article 20. Children Looked After.
Foster placement living conditions, how young people in care feel like their voice is lost in decisions being made about where they will live “adults make the choices for our future”.
Article 34. Protection from Sexual Abuse. Article 36. Protection from Exploitation
“We shouldn’t feel shame or guilt, it’s not our fault…...we need to talk about this more, so we don’t feel like this” the silence and negative perceptions of children who are sexually exploited makes those who have experienced this fearful to talk about it.
Read the full summary of Child Rights Statements here.
Politicians’ responses to additional questions from the Your Say Child Rights Event
The Q&A had a limited number of questions that could be answered. We said we would meet with the politicians to get the responses. Read the answers here.
Read the full summary of evaluation responses here