affect me?
might be surprised to hear that Childrens Day exists,
too. It doesnt attract the same attention in the UK as
Mothers and Fathers Day sadly, there are no cards
and presents. Yet the day has been marked in the
worlds calendar since 1954 and its really important. The Nazis got rid
It was set up by the United Nations (UN), which is an of people they
organisation that promotes world peace and aims to didnt like. No one shall
create a better world one where childrens human
In the early 20th century, several European
be discriminated
rights are respected and their wellbeing is a priority.
Childrens Day is celebrated on 20 November each
countries were ruled by dictators. A dictator is against
someone who rules a country, without having to If only certain people could rely on their human
year and, this year, the theme is Kids take over.
answer to anyone else. Under the rule of dictators, rights, there would be little point having them.
Children will be ruling schools and companies, and
peoples human rights were stripped away. The This right stops that from happening. It means, for
even taking charge of TV programmes, to let the world
Holocaust is the most extreme example of this. example, that the police cannot stop, arrest and
know what more can be done to improve their rights.
Between 1941 and 1945, the Nazi party in detain (put into a cell) a teenager just because they
You can find out more at tinyurl.com/TWJrights
Germany attempted to get rid of Europes Jews. are of a particular race or from a certain country. If
Led by Adolf Hitler, the Nazis killed more than six this ever happens to you, this right enables
What are human rights? million Jewish men, women and children. After the you to challenge the way that you
Second World War ended in 1945, countries were have been treated.
determined to make sure such a terrible thing
could never happen again. They created a
document to set out the basic rights we all need to
live a free and dignified life. This is called the
European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). In
1998, the UK passed the Human Rights Act, which
meant these rights became part of UK law.
WOW!
Convention on the Rights of the
ame
fzai bec as
Child. Passed on Universal
Y o usa w
Malala s when she for
Childrens Day in 1989, this sets
famou in Pakistan an
out a list of responsibilities
attackedout against a b
that each country must follow
g .
speakingirls education
to protect the human rights
of children. n o ds
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She now niversity.
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12 Oxford The Week Junior 18 November 2017
All about human rights OU
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In 2016 s declared
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We all hu
have freedom
of thought Who enforces human rights?
Childrens opinions and voices matter. From
practising your religion, to criticising the lack Children in Gaza,
of playground facilities in your local area, a Palestinian
this right ensures that you can think and territory, paint
speak freely. It also means that children a mural.
have a right to be heard in court
cases that affect
their lives.
Everybody
has a right to
education
This means children must receive an
education. Although schools can exclude
children if they misbehave, this must be Theres a lot you can do to help, like reporting
fair being sent home for talking to hateful bullying in the playground to your teacher
your neighbour, for example, or letting your Member of Parliament (the person
would be too severe. who is chosen to represent your local area in
Parliament) know how childrens lives can be
improved. Its also important to talk to your
friends about what human rights do for us,
because some people take them for granted.
www.rightsinfo.org