Guide to Children's Rights          

Bases on which the Convention rests

The Convention rests on four fundamental principles, without whose satisfaction can not be achieved any other rights:

Right to live, survival and development - that the state must provide to each child, in maximum possible extent
Non-discrimination - all children has the same rights, regardless of: race, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, nationally, ethnic or social origin, property, disablement, birth or other status of the child, his parent or legal guardian
child's best interest - in all proceedings affecting the child, his / her best interest will have priority
respect of the child - the child's right to express their opinions in all matters and procedures relating to it and that his opinion is taken into account

What rights are enshrined in the Convention?
The Convention contains all kinds of human rights
 that are mutually intertwined. There are no more or less important rights, because they all together form a whole.
For your convenience, rights under the Convention about the Rights of the Child will be grouped accordingly:
- The Convention emphasizes the rights and responsibilities of parents, in other words extended family, to direct and advise the child about his or her rights, according to the evolving opportunities

HOW CAN USE THE CONVENTION?
The Convention is the work of professionals and experts and is intended, primarily, professionals: teachers, educators, health and social workers, lawyers, judges and members of those professions who work professionally or come into contact with children. It is designed for parents. But its essence has to know in the full extent the children themselves. Knowing and understanding in a timely manner all the rights that belong to them by the inherent and which are guaranteed by the Convention, children will mature into a responsible persons, they will know to respect the rights of othersand to fight for a more consistent implementation of their.
On deprivation, inadequate exercise or violation of any rights under the Convention may indicate any. Whenever the children's rights are not respected should react as an individual, groups or institutions and draw attention to the authorities: ministries, institutions, services, local authorities, or contact the organizations for the rights of children to assistance and mediation. Convention, in that sense, serves as a roadmap of what and how to do.

SOME MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Some rights are more important than others
FALSE. There are no more or less important rights, there is no hierarchy. In particular situation every right can become the major for a particular child or his close surroundings.

The Convention does not oblige, because it's not law
FALSE. Although originally adopted by the UN General Assembly, Convention becomes obligatory when the state, ie. its parliament adopted. In our country, according to the RS Constitution, the Convention is a law like any other. Freely said, the Convention is the Children's Constitution.

Children have the right to do whatever they want
NO. Children's rights do not mean the absolute freedom to act. The essence of children's rights is to be provided life and development in safety, healthy environment to be able to realize their full potential and contribute to society as children and as adults.

Small children can not make decisions
FALSE. No child is so small that can not express their need, the desire or opinion. The question is how it communicate and how adults react to it. Small babies do movements, facial and cry, the older children give the word. Respect as the needs or desires, adults give their child the opportunity in their own way to affect the decision.

Children are not mature enough to participate in important decisions
FALSE. If a decision is important for children we will know when we ask. In life of every child and to all ages there are things that directly affect it and what are their important. There are many themes and content in the family, school or institution in which the child can and should be heard, and his opinions respected.

More rights for children - less for adults
FALSE. The meaning of children's rights is not a substitute authority or anarchy, but the creation of preconditions for the realization of human rights of every person regardless of age.

We give children rights, and what about their responsibility?
FALSE. FIRST, we do not give children rights, but it belongs to them at birth. SECOND, learning that they have rights, children also learn that the same rights belonging to others. Pleading for respect for their rights, children develop a sense of responsibility and respect for the rights of other individuals and groups. Also, participating in decision-making, children can more easily assume the responsibility for their implementation.

The largest commitments in achieving the Convention about the rights belong to parents
FALSE. Greatest responsibility and commitment to the rights of children as consistently and comprehensively achieve is on the state. The state has signed and ratified the Convention and with its bodies and the competent services stands as a guarantor that these rights and enjoy are fully applied in practice. However, under the Convention itself the role of parents is of utmost importance and state must respect the rights and responsibilities of parents to direct and advise the child about his / her rights, according to the developmental opportunities of the child.