On World Children's Day each year, we celebrate all kids and remember their rights. But what exactly are rights?
For this special episode of News Time, Ruby is joined by Australia's National Children's Commissioner, Anne Hollonds. Ruby and Anne talk about World Children's Day, about what rights are and some of the special rights kids have.
It's best if this episode is listened to with a grown-up around.
Ruby:
Hello, my friends. It's Ruby here, and you're listening to a special episode of news time.
This episode is all about a day that happens in November called World Children's Day, and it's good if you listen with a grown up around, just in case it brings up any big feelings for you.
World Children's Day is a day to celebrate kids, to make sure their voices are heard and to acknowledge their important place in the world now and in the future.
One grown up who really cares about the rights of kids is Anne Hollands. She's Australia's National Children's Commissioner. Hello, Anne.
Anne:
Hi Ruby, hi everyone.
Ruby:
Being the National Children's Commissioner sounds like a pretty important job. Anne, what is your job about?
Anne:
My job as National Children's Commissioner is to stand up for the rights of all children in Australia and to make sure that children get the things that they need to be safe and well.
One of the most important things that I do is listen to children about what matters most to them, and then I tell government and other decision makers what all the children have said to me so that children's rights can be better protected.
Ruby:
Okay, that's definitely an important job. And let's talk about World Children's Day. Why is it held on the 20th of November?
Anne:
Because it's the anniversary of a big event that took place on that day in 1989 that was 35 years ago. And on that day, all the leaders of countries from around the world came together to make a big international agreement called the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and then Australia ratified that agreement. That means we agreed that we would be part of it, and signed up as well.
Ruby:
Okay, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Why was that agreement important?
Anne:
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is a promise to children. It says that everyone under 18 has the right to grow up safe and healthy, and that all children should be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are or where they live, all children are equal, no matter what their gender is, their religion or their ethnicity.
And adults and governments have a responsibility to make sure that children enjoy these rights and live the best life possible.
Ruby:
We speak about rights quite a lot here on news time, but what exactly are rights?
Anne:
Well, a right is an entitlement. That that word means that it's something you should have so you have the right to safe shelter, a home that protects you from the weather, but you don't have the right to have the newest gaming console. That's just a nice thing to have.
Human rights are the things that all humans should have, no matter where they are, rights recognize that every person has value and can live a safe and happy life, and while all humans have rights, children have a whole lot of rights that are just for them as kids.
Kids have the right to live a full, safe and healthy life, and they also have the right to have their views and ideas heard when adults are making decisions that affect them.
But sometimes adults make decisions about big things that affect kids too. So children have the right to meet with other children and to join groups. They have the right to reliable information in the media to know what's going on in the world.
Ruby:
And that's why we love making news time every week.
Anne:
Exactly. Children also have a right to an education. They also have the right to clean water and nutritious food, and the government has a responsibility to make that happen. Finally, this is a big one. Children have the right to rest and to play.
Children have a lot of rights. In fact, there are 54 rights in the agreement, and something everyone should know is that these rights can't be taken away from you.
Ruby:
Phew, that's good news. But Anne, do kids actually know what their rights are?
Anne:
Well, no, unfortunately, a lot of kids don't know their rights, even though, when we signed up to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, this agreement says that we have a responsibility to make sure that children know their rights.
Ruby:
Whose job is it to make sure that children's rights are protected?
Anne:
All adults, really and what happens around the world is that everyone sort of keeps an eye on each other. Every country that has signed the agreement has to write reports and send them to a group of 18 experts from different countries, and they're called the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. This committee of experts reads through the report to make sure that children's rights are being looked after here.
Most kids in Australia grow up in a safe and healthy environment, but for some kids in Australia and in other countries around the world, this isn't the case.
Places where there's conflicts and war, like in Ukraine or in the Middle East, many children there no longer have the rights that they once did, including access to safety, to health, care, food and water.
Another big problem is child poverty, where millions of children around the world, including in Australia, they don't have a safe place to live, healthy food or clean drinking water.
All kids deserve to be protected and to have their rights. Children have a right to talk about issues that matter to them.
Ruby:
Are kids doing that and are they being heard?
Anne:
Well, not all kids are being heard. Unfortunately, one of the rights though, in the convention is that children must be listened to and included in decisions that affect them. That means that grown ups and governments should be listening to what kids are saying and taking this seriously.
Ruby:
So what's the best way for kids to raise their voices and have their say?
Anne:
Kids can talk to grown ups who they trust. They can also get together with other kids at school, like joining the student council. You can also write to the government or to people in charge, like the Prime Minister, about things that matter most to you. One way that you may have seen grown ups having their say is through protests. You might have seen people doing things like marching down the street holding signs and chanting about what they believe in.
Anne:
What those people are doing is making noise about the thing.
Things that matter to them, and they hope that they'll be heard by the government or people in charge. What they really want to see is change happen, and some children join in protests too.
Children have the right to speak up about the things that matter most to them, even things that can make them angry, and adults should be listening to them.
Anne:
Those are all good things that I know, that many kids feel strongly about, they're passionate about, and knowing that children around the world don't have the rights that they deserve. Is a good reason to speak up.
Ruby:
And you also said that children have a right to be safe. What does safe mean, exactly?
Anne:
Well, Ruby, that means that nobody should hurt children. In fact, adults have a duty to protect children from harm. That means that you can use your voice to say when something or someone makes you feel unsafe and adults have a responsibility to listen to you.
Ruby:
Anne, thank you so much for joining us on news time and explaining why rights are so important to us kids and Happy World Children's Day.
Anne:
Thanks so much. Ruby.
Bye, everyone. And I hope you all have a Happy World Children's Day as well.
Ruby:
And I'll catch you all soon on our next weekly episode of news time and remember if this episode made you feel like you want to talk about it a bit more, please reach out to a grown up you trust.