Won’t children and young people take advantage of adults if they are taught about their rights?

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is clear that children not only have rights, but also the responsibility to respect the rights of others. One of the aims of education about children’s rights is the development of respect for parents and their values and culture.

The Convention upholds the primary importance of the parent's role and refers to it repeatedly throughout the document. It says that the government must respect the responsibility of parents for providing appropriate guidance for their children, including guidance as to how children and young people shall exercise their rights. Further, the Convention places on governments the responsibility to protect and assist families in fulfilling their essential role as the nurturers of children. Specifically, the Convention supports:

• Parents/caregivers in raising their children, consistent with the evolving capacities of the child. (Article 5)
• The recognition that the child has the right to preservation of identity, including nationality, name and family relations. (Article 8.1)
• The recognition that children have the right to know and, when possible, to be cared for by their parents. (Article 7.1)
• The recognition that parents have the right to guide the religious development of their children. (Article 14)
• The recognition that both parents have the common responsibility of raising their children. (Article 18)