Children’s rights for parents and guardians
What are children’s rights, and what should I, as a parent or guardian, know about them? How are children’s rights applied in Finland, and what should I do if a child’s rights are violated?
Parents and other guardians play a key role in building a good life for children
Parents and other guardians have the primary, shared responsibility for building a good life for their children and for safeguarding and defending their children’s rights. It is important for guardians to know the rights children have so that they can support their children’s growth and development and ensure their legal protection. The State has a duty to support parents in their role as carers and educators.
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. The treaty entered into force under Finnish law in 1991.
When children’s rights are realised, a child…
- is able to grow up in a loving, safe environment,
- is treated equally to others,
- is taken seriously and their wishes, needs and views are listened to,
- 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 their interests are taken into account,
- has their own space, and nobody violates their right to privacy,
- can build a relationship with their parents, unless this is against the best interests of the child, and
- knows their rights.
What should a parent/guardian 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. It is beneficial for parents and guardians to be familiar with children’s rights so that they can support the child’s well-being, development, and participation in everyday life.
Every child has the right to life, health and wellbeing. Parents must ensure that their children grow up in a safe environment that supports their development into their own person.
Children must be protected from all forms of abuse, such as violence, sexual exploitation, substance misuse and other harms. Children must also be protected when they are at risk due to circumstances within their family.
Authorities may intervene if a family is unable to provide sufficient protection. The State has a duty to secure a child’s living conditions if a guardian is unable to do so.
Read more:
- The right to life, survival and development
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 6, Article 18, Article 19, Article 20, Article 24, Article 27, Article 33, Article 34, Article 36, Article 37, Article 39
Children have the right to participate and to have their views heard in matters that concern them. They have the right to express their opinions and to receive information. Parents 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. As children grow and develop, the weight given to their views should increase.
The right of children to express their views does not mean that they should decide everything for themselves. Parents must set safe and clear boundaries and consider children’s best interests in a holistic manner. This may include, for example, requiring children to brush their teeth, not serving them sweets for dinner or setting them a curfew. Parents should explain their decisions to their children so that rules and restrictions do not seem arbitrary.
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 privacy. This means that parents or other guardians may not interfere in children’s personal matters, read their letters or diaries or listen to their telephone conversations without a justified reason.
Read more:
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 16
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. Parents and guardians must support this right by inviting children to play and providing them opportunities to take part in a variety of activities.
Read more:
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 31
Family and relatives are an important part of children’s lives. They have the right to live and grow up in a family, provided this is possible and safe. Within the family, they should be offered warmth, affection and support in difficult matters. They are entitled to see their parents and build a meaningful, personal relationship with them.
If a child cannot live with their birth family for reasons such as violence, their best interests may sometimes require placement with a foster family or in an institution. In such cases, efforts must still be made to support and maintain family relationships with the birth family.
Read more:
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 8, Article 9, Article 18, Article 20, Article 21
Children have the right to free basic education and sufficient support for learning. Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children attend school and that their needs are taken into account. It is important that children’s interests are considered when choosing education and hobbies.
Parents need to know how and where to seek help if their family is experiencing difficulties, or if their child needs additional support or care at school, or in healthcare or social services. Children with disabilities have the right to receive assistance that meets their specific needs, so that they can enjoy a full and meaningful life.
Read more:
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 23, Article 24, Article 28, Article 29
Parents and guardians should also know what to do if a child’s rights are violated. For this reason, it is important that parents and guardians understand the rights children have. The realisation of children’s rights is monitored and overseen by a number of authorities. In certain situations, a child may also be entitled to legal aid.
Read more:
Children have the right to live free from discrimination and to be treated fairly in all situations and environments. They must not be treated less favourably than others on the basis of their sex, ethnic background, religion, disability or other personal characteristics.
Parents play an important role in supporting children and promoting equality. They are crucial in fostering their self-belief and sense of self-worth and equal standing with others. When parents treat children fairly, they grow to value themselves and learn to expect to be treated fairly elsewhere and to treat others fairly.
Read more:
- Prohibition of discrimination
- Human rights belong to everyone
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 1, Article 2, Article 40
The Convention on the Rights of the Child also refers to parents and families. The preamble states that the family is the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth and wellbeing of children.
Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, parents have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of their children, and they must act in the best interests of their children. The State must support parents in this task. The importance of the family is further emphasised in the Convention by the fact that a child who cannot live with their family has the right to special protection and assistance from the State.
Read more:
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 5, Article 7, Article 9, Article 10, Article 14, Article 18, Article 20, Article 27, Article 29
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!
What are children's rights?
Children’s rights are based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted in 1989 and entered into force as law in Finland in 1991. The Convention guarantees equal human rights to all children under the age of 18 and places an obligation on the state to actively promote the realisation of these rights and protect children from violations of their rights.
According to Section 22 of the Constitution of Finland (in Finnish, finlex.fi), public authorities must guarantee the observance of fundamental rights and human rights. This obligation applies to those who prepare legislation, lawmakers, and authorities responsible for implementing laws. Safeguarding these rights is an integral part of the duties of every public authority.
Children’s rights are based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted in 1989 and entered into force as law in Finland in 1991. The Convention guarantees equal human rights to all children under the age of 18 and places an obligation on the state to actively promote the realisation of these rights and protect children from violations of their rights.
According to Section 22 of the Constitution of Finland (in Finnish, finlex.fi), public authorities must guarantee the observance of fundamental rights and human rights. This obligation applies to those who prepare legislation, lawmakers, and authorities responsible for implementing laws. Safeguarding these rights is an integral part of the duties of every public authority.
