Children Have Rights – Why Does that Make Some People Angry?
When someone publishes a piece in mainstream media using the term ‘children’s rights’ or something similar, there’s often a stream of angry and defensive comments from adults who flip the argument to questions like “what about the rights of parents?” – usually those comments also express annoyance at the focus on a child’s rights...My question is – what are adults scared of? Why does the term “children’s rights” make some adults uncomfortable? Read full article
A Forum on Australia's Child Rights on World Human Rights Day
A panel of inspiring change makers is meeting for a forum on Australia's child rights this World Human Rights Day, December 10, in Sydney. A forum for youth advocates and the next generation of change makers. Read full article
Children’s Rights vs Freedom of Religion and the Confessional Seal
Opinion: In response to the ongoing cascade of accusations and evidence of systemic and decades long child abuse, the federal government finally announced a Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse on Monday. One possible recommendation is already being mooted, that priests be obliged to report any knowledge of child sex abuse to police. Such an obligation would undoubtedly enhance protection of the rights of children. It would also interfere with the freedom of religion of priests if they are compelled to reveal information conveyed during formal 'confessions'. In this clash of rights, which should prevail? Read full article
Using Sport to Teach Children about Human Rights
As a daughter of a migrant, whose father fled Croatia in the 1950s to settle in Melbourne, I was always conscious that my Dad’s boat story made me different in the school yard. At recess and lunch, to avoid the jibes, I hung out with other migrant kids; first-generation Asians; second-generation Italians and Greeks; kids from Madagascar, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Spain. I had the United Nations of mates...Sport made us winners. This is why it is such joy to champion a program fusing sport with human rights. Read full article
We Are All Born Free
The most gorgeous hard back picture book for children about human rights.This beautiful commemorative edition of We Are All Born Free celebrates each declaration with an illustration by an internationally renowned artist or illustrator.A testament to freedom and the human spirit, it is a thoughtful gift for children and adults alike. Read full article
What do You Know about Indigenous Children in Australia?
Today is International Day of the World's Indigenous People - the theme is "Indigenous Media, Empowering Indigenous Voices". Here in Australia we still have a long way to go, in my opinion, in promoting and listening to Indigenous voices when it comes to improving the conditions of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children ... The United Nations' press release for today's activities points out the importance of us listening to voices of Indigenous people via the media ...read what SNAICC has to say about protecting the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Read full article
Safe Haven - Preventing Women from Harming Their Babies
Opinion: In December 2010, Keli Lane, a former champion water polo player, was convicted of the 1996 murder of her two day old daughter, Tegan. The new-born girl was never seen again after leaving the hospital with Lane, who was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment last year. The law treats the crime of abandoning, or killing a child younger one year old under special conditions. It is also the kind of crime that attracts special attention from the media and the public, but many of these crimes will go unheard of, and unsolved. Read full article
Abandoned Babies - a Plea for Thoughtful Media Reporting
This morning’s news reported a six week old baby allegedly having been abandoned by his parents on the side of the road at about 3am in a western Sydney suburb. It’s simply heartbreaking to think of such a young child being mistreated in this way. And my natural first reaction was anger at the adults involved in that child’s care. Two writers on mainstream online media websites this morning called the situation as they saw it ... I think as bloggers, journalists and publishers we can do better in these rare but extremely disturbing situations where a baby is abandoned. Read full article
UNICEF Day for Children - Is Your School Involved?
Share this with your children and their schools. On UNICEF Day for Children, kids can help make a difference to children all over the world. It's also a great way of educating children about human rights. Video features children's author, Morris Gleitzman.UNICEF Day for Children is on 24th October 2012. Read full article
Four Girls Who Have an Opinion - a Child Rights Case?
This week the rights of a child are in the news in Australia. What? You didn’t see all the media? Did you see the numerous television and news stories about four girls (aged 9, 10, 13 and 14) ‘on the run’, trying to avoid a court order that they return to Italy where their father lives (their mum is Australian)? Without knowing the details of those four girls’ experiences and knowing nothing about the mother or father, it’s a mistake for any of us to pass judgement on where those girls should be living right now. That’s a judgement for experts and the courts – but you know what, it’s also something about which each of those four children would have a strong view. Read full article
