A child or young person

Like everyone else, you have human rights too. Not because you are “the future” or an “adult of tomorrow”, but because you are a human being today.

A human right is something that everyone should be able to do or have. They include important things like the right to life, freedom of expression (so you can say, write, draw or think what you want), the right to non-discrimination (meaning everyone is treated the same, no matter who they are, what they look like or where they come from) and much, much more. All human rights laws apply to everyone, including children like you.

If you want to, you can play a big role in making the environment around you respectful of your rights. This page gives a few examples and advice. Of course there are other ways, and if you think of any then email us and let us know so we can pass it on to others!

Children’s rights

In addition to all human rights, as a child you also have special rights. Among a lot of other things, these special rights protect you from violence and abuse (including from your teachers, religious leaders and parents), give you the right to be heard so you can share your opinions, and mean when adults are making decisions that affect you they must do so in your best interests.

All children have children’s rights. They are written down in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is a document that every country in the world (expect one: the United States) says it agrees with. You can read the full text of the Convention, and the Scottish Children’s Commissioner has produced a great one in pictures that you might find useful.

You might also find our guides section useful, particularly the introduction to children's rights guides. We have also produced a guide to applying a rights based approach for children where you can find our more ways to campaign for rights, challenge violations and protect and respect the rights of other children. 

Rights violations

All over the world children like you are suffering human rights violations. This might mean that someone has harmed them (could be physically or emotionally), has taken something from them or stopped them from doing something (eg going to school, writing a blog etc).

You might have personal experience of this, or know someone who has. But even if you haven’t, you can help advance children’s rights everywhere by being aware of your rights and becoming a powerful advocate for both yourself and others.

Resources

Below are some resources to help you. We are producing new ones all the time, and updating the current ones. Please contact us with any feedback, or have ideas for ones we could create! 

Good general websites to learn about your rights

Child helplines

Find a telephone helpline in your country. Helplines have trained people on the end of the phoneline who you can talk to about any problems you have at school, in your family, or in your community. Helplines are private and confidential.

For answers and practical advice on issues experienced by many teenagers, visit UK-based website TeenIssues. Features are written by professional journalists and experts who have a particular interest or background in the issues they write about.

*** Internet Safety: How to report online child abuse ***

To learn how to stay safe while talking to your friends and meeting new people online, visit:

What is CRIN?

CRIN stands for the Child Rights International Network. CRIN is a global children’s rights advocacy network. Established in 1995, we press for rights - not charity - and campaign for a genuine shift in how governments and societies view and treat children. We link to nearly 3,000 organisations that between them work on children’s rights in every country in the world and rely on our publications, research and information sharing. 

The CRIN office is in London, in the United Kingdom, and you can get in touch with our staff via the CRIN contact us section. We are always interested in hearing from children and young people - about any problems you are facing, any advice you need or questions you may have. We would also like to know what you think about our work and the resources on our website.

Sign up to get the CRINmail - our email newsletter on the week in children’s rights. As well as English, we also produce regular CRINmails in Arabic, French, Spanish and Russian, as well as specific ones covering the UN, violence against children and children in armed conflict.

Get involved and become a children’s rights advocate

You can contact Youth Organisations in your country to get involved in their activities.

Visit UNICEF's Magic website, a site devoted to children's participation in the media. It gives information about how children can get their voices heard, it has a calendar of events for children, offers media resources for young people and an email group.

Visit Save the Children's School Link website, where you can learn about the lives of children in other countries, play fun games and read stories written by children themselves.

The Voices of Youth website invites you to have "your shout" by expressing your opinion through useful local, national or international organisations.

WOFCHA, the World’s Financial Challenge, is a space where youth influence and feedback on the financial issues and policies that most matter to them.

Have fun! Creative ways to learn about your rights

CRIN has compiled a list of educational games and activities for children to learn about their rights and about children's rights issues.

  • Know your rights game -This is an interactive game about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
  • Childline website - You can play games, watch videos and try out the creative tools.
  • Cyber Dodo - Also available in French, Spanish and Arabic
  • WaterAid website - Learn what's so special about water, loos and soap? They keep you safe from millions of tiny bugs found in - you guessed it – poo!
  • Darfur is Dying - learn about the crisis in Darfur through this online narrative-based simulation game.