Children on rights and responsibilities…(Children's Rights Director for England)

Children on rights and responsibilities …the findings

Dr Roger Morgan OBE

Children’s Rights Director for England

CROA Conference,

Manchester 13 October 2010

CRD STATUTORY FUNCTIONS

Ascertaining the views of children and young people within our remit

Advising on children’s rights and welfare

Raising issues the CRD considers significant to the rights or welfare of children in his remit

By law to HMCI By Protocol to DfE and Ministers

OUR SPECIAL FEATURES …

We consult and our reports, like a research report, are

CHILDREN’S VIEWS AND NOTHING BUT CHILDREN’S VIEWS

(written for ten year olds and Ministers)

We carry out OMBUDS-LIKE CASEWORK

We don’t campaign

We input children’s views directly to Government policy

We are statutorily and specifically for children in social care or in residential education

The consultation

National children’s ‘treasure hunt’ conference (Flamingo Land)

Web survey

Written survey

Symbols survey (Widget)

6 school based focus groups

1,888 children contributed views

The consultation

List of rights provided for voting:

From Human Rights Act From UNCRC Ten from previous CRD consultations

Children asked for reasons for supporting a right

These reasons analysed to identify ‘overarching rights’

No suggested responsibilities – children’s free text responses

Further reading:… all reports on www.rights4me.org

Do we need a UK Bill of Rights and Responsibilities?

70% said yes

So people know what rights they have

So people know what is expected of them

To make sure people are listened to

To make things more equal and fair

Do we need a UK Bill of Rights and Responsibilities?

25% said no …

People already know their rights and responsibilities

People should not be told what to do

Individual people are too different to have a single list of everyone’s rights and responsibilities

People won’t read or follow them anyway

Right to go to school so you can learn stuff

Rights and responsibilities should not be changing with a new government every election- they should be consistent and have a basis

Key points to ponder …

If people have a right to have a say about what happens, then they have a responsibility to use that right and to give their opinion

Making choices is a responsibility, not a right

Everyone has a responsibility towards their parents, but there is a limit to this if their parents have not carried out their own responsibility to look after their children properly

‘A right is something you should always be able to do, to have, to know or to say, or a protection you should have from something’

Adapted from CRD definition accepted and published by Ministry of Justice

CHILDREN’S TOP TEN RIGHTS

To be protected from abuse

To have an education

To be helped to keep alive and well

Not to be discriminated against because of my race, colour, sex, language, disability, language or beliefs

Not to be treated or punished in a way that is cruel or meant to make me feel bad about myself

Special help for any child with a disability

To have privacy

Not to be bullied

To keep in touch with my parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters if I want to and they want to, wherever we all live

To have my private letters, phone calls, emails & messages kept confidential

be able to relax and enjoy themselves rather than being constantly afraid or nervous about the situation they are in

have your own space when you want to be on your own, not people following or watching you

Children’s own proposed rights – group one

Rights voted 22nd to 24th …

To enjoy myself now, as well as prepare for the future

To be told about my past life, if and when I want to know

To be treated as an individual, not as one of a group of children

Children’s own proposed rights – group two

Rights voted 27th to 31st …

To make and keep my own friends

To have my views, wishes, worries and feelings asked about and thought about when people decide things for me, however old I am

To make decisions for myself if I understand enough, whatever age I am

To do hobbies I want to do

Always to get the help the law says I should

Some children’s ideas for rights …

right to be what you want to be

right to know what’s going on

right to be naughty

right to have suitable home, suitable clothing, and good food

right to sleep

right to have a job

right to ask questions

right of freedom of movement

right to not conform though still obeying

right not to be damaged by the media

right to know your rights

we should have the right to take responsibility

being able to know that there will be more nice things to come

Overarching rights

Every right had supporters who thought it was self evident

But many rights were supported as they were needed as part of another right

Nine overarching rights emerged as being seen as so obvious that anything that was a part of those rights would get votes for that reason

THE NINE OVERARCHING RIGHTS FROMCHILDREN’S RIGHTS CONSULTATION 2010

The right to be safe from harm

The right to well-being

The right to be alive and well

The right to learning and education

The right to enjoy life

The right to be oneself

The right of all people to be treated equally and fairly

The right to socialise with other people

The right to have a say in one’s own life

Lowest scoring rights …

Lowest was …

to get information from other people

Next lowest were …

to read books and get information in other ways

to speak in my own language

‘A responsibility is something everyone is expected to do, for themselves, for other people, or for the world we live in’

CRD definition now accepted and published by Ministry of Justice

CHILDREN’S TOP TEN RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibility for your own behaviour and actions

Making use of your education

Showing respect to others

Responsibility for your own safety

Looking after others

Looking after yourself

Your own health and hygiene

Carrying out your responsibilities around the house

Looking after the environment

Giving your opinion

Some thoughts on responsibilities …

Responsibility to influence people positively

Everyone has a responsibility to show respect to other age groups

Take a responsibility for the environment

Obey the laws of the country

On consultation …

NB – UK Children Act 1989 is stronger for children affected than UNCRC, as it includes taking feelings into account

Children voted many rights as more important than being consulted about things – but identified being consulted as the main area where children’s rights need improving

Being asked – being toldfrom Children’s Care Monitor 2010

53% are usually or always asked their opinions about things that matter to them

51% say their opinions, when asked, usually or always make a difference to decisions about their lives

69% say adults usually or always tell them when changes are going to happen in their lives

Care planningfrom Children’s Care Monitor 2010

72% stated they had a care plan

81% of those knew what was in their care plan

60% of them had a say in what is in their care plan

65% of them agreed with their care plan

81% of them said their care plan was being fully kept to

some adults can be too busy to listen to what kids want to say – sometimes kids say some amazingly influential and important things because they see the world from a different perspective

all children should have the responsibility to be their own person, to not have to be forced under other people’s views about life, obviously to follow the law and to be well-mannered, but they should have the responsibility to grow up as themselves