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Listen
02 fairness, freedom and having your say
- Rights belong to everyone - that includes you! Nobody should treat you unfairly because of who you are.
- When adults make a decision about you it is what's best for you that should be the most important thing to consider. You must have your say too.
- You should have a name and belong to a country.
- 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 children.
- 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 other people.
- No-one should treat you cruelly.
The Government has tried to make Scotland a place where people respect each other; we can have different cultures, languages or religions but we are all equal and we all have rights.
The Government has said that you have a right to have your say when adults make a decision that has an effect on you. This includes having your say at school about your learning.
Most children with disabilities go to mainstream school. Some go to special schools. The Government has tried to make sure school pupils with extra needs get the support they need to make the most of school.
The Government has made the Children's Hearings better. You might go to a Hearing because you are not being cared for properly or because it is believed you have committed a crime. At a Hearing you have the right to have your say. You can ask for legal support to protect your rights.
If you are looked after or in care it is especially important that you have your say about what is happening to you.
The Government has been worried about anti-social behaviour and passed a law about it. This law allows Police to break up and move on groups of children or 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.
In Scotland a parent can use physical punishment, like smacking. The Government thought about banning all physical punishment and asked people what they thought. Most adults thought that adults should be able to use physical punishment. Most children 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 to explain to parents what they can and cannot do.
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