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SECTION 3: CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
There are important promises in the UNCRC about freedom. The UNCRC says:
- You should have a name and belong to a country.
- You should know who your parents are and be cared for by them if possible.
- You can find out things, and say what you think through speaking, writing or making art, as long as it doesn't hurt you or other people.
- You can think and believe what you like and have what religion you want.
- You can meet with other people and join in groups or clubs. When you get together with other people you must not break the rights of other young people.
- You should have privacy. Your letters, diary or phone calls should be private.
- You can get information from the radio, television, books or on the internet. But you should be protected from information that might harm you.
- If you come from a minority group you have the right to speak your own language and practice your own religion if it is different from most other people.
- No-one should treat you cruelly.
All children born in Scotland have their birth registered, normally within 21 days.
In Scotland people can practice their religion. The Government had a campaign called One Scotland, Many Cultures to make sure people understand how important it is to respect that there are many different religions, languages and cultures in Scotland. If you are looked after away from your family home you have the right to continue to practice your religion and speak your language if it is not English.
The Government was concerned about ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR and in 2004 passed a law about it. This law allows Police to break up and move on groups of young people who are gathered together in a public place. Some people said this broke young people's rights to get together peacefully. But the Government said this was not the case.
If a young person is in SECURE ACCOMMODATION or a YOUNG OFFENDERS INSTITUTION there are rules that say what kind of care, accommodation, health and education they should get.
In Scotland a parent can use PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT, like smacking. The Government considered banning all physical punishment and had a consultation. Most adults thought that adults should be able to use physical punishment. Most children and young people thought it should be banned. The Government decided not to ban it but to make it illegal for an adult to do some things like shake a child, hit them on the head or use something like a belt to hit a child. The Government produced a booklet called Children, Physical Punishment and the Law to explain to parents what they can and cannot do. If you want to read it, Google the title and find it on the Scottish Government website.
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