Children’s rights for professionals working with children
What are children’s rights, and what should I, as a professional, know about them? How are children’s rights applied in Finland, and what should I do if a child’s rights are violated?
Professionals should actively raise awareness of children’s rights
Schools play a pivotal role in promoting children’s rights, as they reach every child on an equal basis. Other organisations and professionals working with children also have a significant part to play in ensuring that children’s rights are realised.
Professionals should proactively increase awareness of children’s rights among children and their guardians, thereby supporting the practical implementation of those rights.
ChildRights365: online training for professionals
ChildRights365 is a 10-part online training programme on the rights of the child and children’s inclusion specifically designed to support professionals in their everyday work.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees every child the right to protection and participation and the opportunity to live a good and happy life. It is a binding international treaty to which nearly all countries in the world are parties, which entered into force under Finnish law in 1991. Children’s rights are human rights, and they are also strongly reflected in the national curriculum, which obliges education professionals to integrate children’s rights into teaching.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child applies to every person under the age of 18. The Convention’s principles – non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, the right to survival and development, and respect for the views of the child – are binding on all States Parties.
Read more in the menu on the side and learn about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its background.
When children’s rights are realised, a child…..
- lives in an environment in which they experience safety, warmth, respect and appreciation and receives support in difficult situations,
- is treated fairly,
- has their wishes, needs and opinions heard,
- is consulted on decisions that affect them, in accordance with their age and level of development,
- is not subjected to psychological or physical violence, nor humiliated or mocked,
- is given freedom, but also clear, protective boundaries,
- is able to learn new things, and
- knows their rights.
What should those working with children know about children’s rights?
The general principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, i.e. non-discrimination, the best interests of the child as a primary consideration, the child’s right to life, survival and development, and the child’s right to express their views and be heard, are fundamental rights through which the entire Convention should be interpreted. They are also reflected in the national curriculum, which requires education professionals to incorporate children’s rights into their activities.
Every child has the right to life, health and wellbeing. Adults have a responsibility to ensure that children can learn and pursue hobbies in a safe environment that supports their development as individuals, free from bullying, violence, exploitation and ill treatment. A child must also be protected where they are at risk due to bullying at school, peer relationships or circumstances within their family.
Wrongdoing must be addressed.
Read more:
- The right to life, survival and development
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 19, Article 20, Article 24, Article 27, Article 33, Article 34, Article 36, Article 37, Article 39
Children have the right to have their views heard. They have the right to express their opinions, and their wishes should be listened to. Adults must take children’s opinions and wishes into account in accordance with their age and level of development, considering situations on a case-by-case basis. Children have the right to be heard in decision-making concerning issues such as their medical care, social care or custody, given their sufficient decision-making capacity.
The right to express one’s views does not mean that children should decide everything for themselves. Adults must set safe and clear boundaries and consider children’s best interests in a holistic manner.
Read more:
- Respecting children’s views
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 12, Article 13, Article 14, Article 15, Article 17
Children have the right to free basic education. They also have the right to receive learning support when needed. Professionals are responsible for ensuring that children’s individual learning needs are taken into account in practice, as far as possible.
Read more:
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 28, Article 29
A child only has one childhood, and they are entitled to enjoy it. The Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees the right to rest, play and leisure.
Play and rest are important for children’s development and wellbeing. The realisation of this right can be supported by encouraging children to play and by providing them opportunities to participate in various activities.
Read more:
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 31
Children have the right to live free from discrimination. They must not be treated less favourably on the basis of their sex, ethnic background, religion, disability or other personal characteristics, for example, nor on the basis of any matters relating to their parents.
Adults, and education professionals in particular, have an important role in promoting equality. They are crucial in fostering children’s self-belief in their sense of self-worth and equal standing with others. In this way, children grow up to respect the rights of others.
Read more:
- Prohibition of discrimination
- Human rights belong to everyone
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 1, Article 2, Article 40
Children have the right to receive support and assistance when needed, for example at school, in healthcare and from social services. It is important that adults working with children understand their entitlements and how and where a child’s parents or guardians can seek help if the family is experiencing difficulties or if the child requires special support or care.
Read more:
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 23, Article 24, Article 28, Article 29
General comments
The General comments of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child are an important resource for everyone working with children, as they help in understanding and interpreting the content of the Convention and the obligations it entails.
All General Comments of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child can be found in one place on the website of the Office of the Ombudsman for Children in Finland.
Learn about Children's Rights Week and explore our free educational materials!
On the Children’s Rights Week website you can find free materials on children’s rights in English for schools and early childhood education. You can also help promote children’s rights by sharing information and ready-made communication materials about children’s rights on social media.
Explore the Children's Rights for Children website!
The Children’s Rights for Children website Lapsenoikeudetlapsille.fi provides children and young people of different ages with practical information about what rights they have and what those rights mean in their everyday lives. They can explore their rights through information cards and quizzes, or by asking questions about children’s rights directly to children’s rights experts. Explore the new website!
