2. Children and Adolescents
of Belize, do you know your rights?
It is very important that you learn about
your rights and responsibilities!
RIGHTS
WHY? So that you can:
Know your rights and respect the rights of others
Know what the responsibilities are that go along with each right
Be sure that others do not take advantage of you
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) tells everyone what
children’s rights are all about and why no one can take them away
from you.
Let’s Learn About Your Rights!
Everyone under 18 years old has these rights!
You have the right to know your rights. Adults should know about these
rights and help you learn about them too!
You have these rights, whoever you are, whoever your parents are,
whatever colour you are, whatever religion you practice, whatever
language you speak, whether you are a girl or boy, whether you have a
disability or if you are rich or poor.
All adults should do what is best for you. When adults make decisions, they
should think about how their decision will affect you.
You have many rights and these rights come under four groups:
1. Developmental Rights 3. Survival Rights
2. Participation Rights 4. Protection Rights 1
3. You have the right to live with
You have the right to a good enough standard your parent(s), unless it is harmful
of living. This means that your parents should to you. You have the right to live
make sure you have food, clothes, a place to with a family who cares for you.
live, etc. If your parents cannot afford this, then
the government should help.
You have the right to
be alive.
Your family should help you
to learn about your rights
and ensure that your rights You have the right to a
are protected. nationality, and to belong
to a country.
Some of the responsibilities that come along with your survival rights
are:
• You have a responsibility to practice a healthy lifestyle; for
example, you should get enough sleep at night and try not eat
a lot of junk food.
• You should do your best to take care of your clothes, toys, school books and
other possessions.
• Be respectful of your parents/guardians or other adults who take care of
you.
• Be careful when you are out on the street. Try to practice all the safety
rules that you know.
• Do your best to respect and take care of all living things like the forest, the
animals and the sea.
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4. If you live in a different
country from your parents, If you have to be You have the right to
you have the right to be adopted, adults should special care and help if
reunited. make sure that it is you cannot live with
arranged in a way that is your parents.
best for you.
You have the right to a name and identity
Both parents should be involved in raising
– an official record of who you are, like a
you, even if they do not live together. They
birth certificate or passport. No one should
should do what is best for you.
take this away from you.
You have the right to the best
health care possible, safe water to
drink, nutritious food and a safe
clean environment and, information
to help you stay well.
• Remember your parent’s/guardian’s advice when they tell you not to do
something or not to go somewhere. It might not be safe.
• Be proud of your family, where they come from, your colour and race,
the special foods that you eat, the songs that you sing and the language
you speak.
• You should appreciate the things that your parents can afford to give
you.
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• Appreciate and love yourself because you are a special person.
5. You have the right to
protection from any kind of
exploitation, which means You have the right to privacy.
being taken advantage of. Others should respect and protect
your privacy.
You should not be kidnapped, and if
you are, the government should do
their best to get you back.
If you have been hurt or
neglected in any way, you
have the right to special
You have the right to be protected from sexual care and treatment.
abuse. This means that nobody can do
anything to your body that makes you feel
uncomfortable. This also means that nobody
should be allowed to touch your private parts
or take naked pictures of you or have you look If you are refugee (meaning you
at pictures of naked people, or even make you have to leave your own country
say things that you don’t want to say. because it is not safe for you to live
there) you have the right to
special protection and help.
Some of the responsibilities that come along with your
participation rights are:
• If you are being hurt or abused, you should talk to an adult who can
help you.
• Be sure to tell the truth, even if you feel afraid.
• Do your best to learn about the laws of the country in which you live.
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6. If you live in foster care or in other If you have a disability,
situations away from home, you either mental or physical,
have the right to have these living you have the right to special
arrangements looked at regularly care and education to help
to see if it is the best place for you. you grow up in the same
way as other children.
No one should hurt you in any way. Adults
should make sure that you are protected
from abuse, violence and neglect. Even your
parents have no right to hurt you.
You have the right to protection in
times of war. If you are under 15 years, Even if you do something wrong, no one
you should never have to be in the is allowed to punish you in a way that
army or take part in war. In Belize, humiliates you or hurts you badly. You
you can’t be a soldier until you are 18 should never be put in prison except as a
years. last resort. If you have to be in prison,
you have the right to special care and
visits from your family.
You have the right to be protected from the
use of illegal and harmful drugs, and from the
business of making and selling drugs.
• You should not use drugs. If it is being offered to you, move away from
where it is located and talk to an adult who can help you to get more
information about it.
• If you are in foster care, you should speak truthfully about the type of
care you are receiving.
• You should respect the privacy of others.
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7. You have the right
to play and rest. Your education should
You have the right to a help you use and
good quality education. develop your talents and
You should be abilities. It should also
encouraged to go to help you to live
school up to the highest peacefully, protect the
level that you can. environment and respect
other people.
If you are old enough to work,
You have the right to according to the Laws of Belize,
protection from work that you have the right to be safe
harms you and is bad for and to be paid fairly.
your health or keeps you
from attending school.
Some of the responsibilities that come along with your
developmental rights are:
• Do your homework, study and listen to your teacher. Pay
attention in class and try not to disrupt, for example,
talking out of turn, playing in class, or walking around.
• Be sure to do your chores because it is important that you also help around
the house.
• Show kindness and respect when playing or doing work with others.
• Ask for help when you are afraid or have problems.
• Try to follow all your school rules and the laws of Belize.
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8. You have the right to practice You have the right to get information
your own religion and beliefs. that is important to your well-being
Your parents should help you from radio, newspaper, books,
decide what is best for you. computers, and other sources. Adults
should make sure that the information
you are getting is not harmful and help
You have the right to find out
you find and understand the
things and to say what you think
information you need.
through speaking, writing, art,
and other ways, unless it goes
against the rights of others. You have the right to defend
yourself if you have been accused of
If you come from a minority committing a crime. The police and
group, you have the right to lawyers and judges in court should
enjoy your own culture, treat you fairly and make sure you
practice your own religion understand what is going on.
and use your own language.
You have the right to choose
your own friends and join or
You have the right to set up groups, as long as it
give your opinion and for isn’t harmful to you or others.
adults to take it seriously.
Some of the responsibilities that come along with your
participation rights are:
• You should state your opinion and speak up, but do so in a respectful way.
• You have a responsibility to choose friends and join groups that will have a
positive effect on you.
• You should listen to what your parents have to say and respect their opinion.
• You -should try to learn about the different cultures and religions and respect
other people’s culture and religion as well.
• You have the responsibility to read only those books, watch only those TV
programmes, play only those video games and visit only those websites that
will have a positive effect on you.
• You should try to find other ways of solving disagreements other than through
violence.
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9. These are your rights and no one should take them from
you. Your parents and other adults in your life should
help you to understand what these rights mean.
Children and Adolescents of Belize, now that you know
your rights and responsibilities, you must put them into
practice. You must also do your best to remember that
rights come with responsibilities.
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10. (Back Cover)
For more information, please contact:
The National Committee for Families and Children
62 Cleghorn Street
Belize City, Belize
Tel: (501)223-0059/ 223-1180
Fax: (501) 223-1229
Email: ncfc@btl.net
And listen to
The Kid O’ Rama Show
Saturdays at 8:30 am
On LOVE FM
11. (inside cover)
Published: November 2004
National Committee for Families and Children
Adapted from “United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child In Child Friendly Language (Giraffe Talk)” and UNICEF’s –
“Know Your Rights! Children’s Rights in Plain English”
