POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 83 continued 12 Child Rights Everyone Should Know continued 3. Health Every child has the right to be alive. Young people deserve the best possible health care, nutritious food, clothing, clean water, electricity, and safe housing. Children should learn good health and hygiene habits in their schools and homes. Children should have their mental, psychological, emotional, and physical health checked regularly, especially if they are away from home. Governments also have a responsibility to help families who cannot afford health expenses. 4. Protection From Harm Every child deserves freedom from abuse. Children should be free from harmful work, drugs, sexual abuse, human trafficking, corporal punishment, emotional and psychological abuse, harmful detention, war, and any other forms of exploitation. Children have the right to seek legal and medical help if they get hurt or abused. They should be free to make complaints about abuse to a third party, and abusers of children should receive prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. 5. Identity Children must be registered when they are born. The national government must recognize a child’s name and national identity, and children must be informed of their identity. Children have a right to receive, access and transmit documents of their own identity. Official records should include their name, place and date of birth, and family relations. If documentation gets destroyed or if a child’s national identity is otherwise compromised, the government must assist the child in getting their identity back. 6. Education Every child has the right to an education. Primary education should be free. Secondary education should be accessible to every child – every child should receive the highest level of education available to them. Education should prepare children to participate as active citizens, teaching them about responsibility and a sense of community. They should also develop their personalities, talents, skills, rights, and abilities while learning to respect others’ autonomy, rights, cultures and differences. 7. Freedom of Thought Children have the right to speak, express and share what they learn, think and feel. They may use any means of creative expression available to them unless their expression somehow harms others. Children can determine their thoughts, means of expression, opinions, sociopolitical ideologies, and religious and spiritual beliefs, provided that their thoughts do not infringe upon the rights of others. Parents should teach children to express themselves and respect the opinions of others. Children have the right to join or create groups and organizations. They have the right to meet with others and advocate for change, as long as they do not harm others. Children have the right to give their opinions on issues that affect them. Adults should take the concerns and opinions of children seriously.
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