Irish legal guide for children published

Ireland’s Children’s Rights Alliance has published a comprehensive information guide for children and young people to help them understand their legal rights.

The Know Your Rights guide has been produced in close consultation with young people and youth groups, and covers the most important legal issues and entitlements affecting them.

Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance, said: “One of our primary focuses over the last three years has been looking at children’s access to information and advice about the rights and protections they have under Irish law. We know through our helpline that this is not always easy to find or easy to understand.

‘We want to inform children and young people’

“We’ve also heard from parents and guardians who are struggling to get clarity on a legal issue or how best to advocate on behalf of a child or young person. We want to inform children and young people about their rights but do so in a way that they can understand and engage with. We have also included sections specifically for parents and guardians to clearly state what a young person’s rights are under Irish law.”

The guide covers nine key areas: equal treatment; education; health; protection from harm; rights in the family; immigration; rights in dealing with criminal law and the Gardai; online rights; and right to shelter.

‘We must acknowledge this is a continuous movement’

“The launch of Know Your Rights comes at an important time. 2019 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. A progressive treaty that called for children’s rights to be recognised and protected. But we must acknowledge that this is a continuous movement, not just a moment in time. We must continue to encourage government and teachers and lawyers to listen to the voice of children and young people so that all children are protected, nurtured and empowered,” added Ward.

The guide will be available to download here.