Untitled Document

Parent Education Handout # 1d
All Children Have Rights and Responsibilities
Roots	Rights	Responsibilities
Session 1 Parents, communities, and governments who work for and support human rights for children provide "an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding" in the home. They provide a "spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity" (from the Preamble of the Convention on the Rights of the Child).	Children have the right to be loved and protected and to be treated with care and respect, to experience a sense of belonging and safety in their family, community, and nation, to express their opinions and ideas.	Children are responsible for treating others as they would like to be treated, respecting others' opinions and ideas, and keeping agreements about rules.
Session 2 Parents, communities, and governments who work for and support human rights for children support the "best interests of the child." They model respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. They prepare the child for "life in a free society in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes and friendship among all peoples." Governments assist parents when necessary, and ensure that children have adequate care when parents or others charged with that responsibility, don't provide it (CRC Articles 3,18,29).	Children have the right to develop physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually in a healthy manner.	Children are responsible for caring for their bodies, minds, and spirits in a healthy manner.
Session 3 Parents, communities, and governments who work for and support human rights for children practice applying human rights in their daily lives to the children in their care, and work to have equal rights honored for all children, without exception (CRC Articles 2, 30).	Children have the right to equality, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, opinion, nationality, or ethnic heritage, and to learn about and express/celebrate their culture and/or ethnic heritage.	Children are responsible for treating others as they would like to be treated and for honoring agreements.
Session 4 Parents, communities, and governments who work for and support human rights for children provide ethnic and national knowledge and roots for their children. They name their child and help him or her acquire a sense of belonging in their family, nation, and world. Through this belonging, their children become invested in the positive development of their family and nation (CRC Articles 7, 8).	Children have the right to a name and to a nationality.	Children are responsible for respecting the rights of those who live in other countries and who are from different countries, and working toward the positive development of their nation.
Session 5 Parents, communities, and governments who work for and support human rights for children recognize that every child needs adult and societal support to survive and to achieve an adequate standard of living, including adequate food and housing, access to health and medical services, and health awareness and education (CRC Articles 6, 24, 27).	Children have the right to life, to an adequate standard of living, to education about their health, and to health care.	Children are responsible for eating what is provided, taking care of the home, their clothing, and themselves.
Session 6 Parents, communities, and governments who work for and support human rights for children, take special care to support and protect those children with special challenges, such as disabilities, psychological trauma, and/or refugee status, and also work to protect the best interests of adopted and foster children (CRC Articles 20-25, 39-40).	Children have the right to special care and protection when needed.	Children are responsible for helping provide special care and consideration for others who need it and helping to advocate for others' needs in achieving self-reliance and a full and decent life.
Session 7 Parents, communities, and governments who work for and support human rights for children provide love and care in their environment and help the child learn that he or she is valuable (CRC Articles 3, 5, 9, 10, 18).	Children have the right to care, protection, and guidance that is in their best interest and takes into consideration their evolving capacities, and to receive the love and care of adults.	Children are responsible for loving and nurturing others, understanding others as best able, and learning about and expressing feelings.
Session 8 Parents, communities, and governments who work for and support human rights for children provide free and compulsory education for every child, aimed at developing the child's personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to the fullest extent, school discipline that is consistent with the child's rights and dignity, and continuing access to information and lifelong learning (CRC Articles 17, 28, 29).	Children have the right to free and compulsory education, discipline consistent with their rights, dignity, and education that prepares them for an active adult life.	Children are responsible for applying their attention to learning being prepared to benefit self and society; cooperating with teachers, parents and others.
Session 9 Parents, communities, and governments who work for and support human rights for children provide opportunities for children to play and learn about their culture and their family's religion (CRC Articles 30-31).	Children have the right to play and recreation, to cultural expression, to learn about and practice their religion.	Children are responsible for engaging in play and leisure time activities, being tolerant of culturally different recreational and religious activities, respecting others' rights.
Session 10 A state which support human rights for children, provides protection under its laws against any and all forms of neglect, cruelty, and exploitation of children (CRC Articles 11, 19, 32-37).	Children have the right to protection from abuse, inappropriate work, sexual exploitation, torture, and war.	Children are responsible for treating others as they would like to be treated, not hurting others, and acting safely.
Session 11 Parents, communities, and governments that support human rights for children provide an environment of freedoms which include freedom of opinions, thoughts, expressions, conscience, religion and of association (CRC Articles 12-16).	Children have the right to freedom of expression, and to have their opinion taken into account in matters affecting them	Children are responsible for supporting other's freedoms and using their freedoms so they don't infringe on the freedoms or well-being of others.
Session 12 Parents, communities, and governments who work for and support human rights for children make continuous efforts to make the world a better place for their children and their children's children.	All the rights mentioned above and others detailed in The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.	Children are responsible for all the above responsibilities.