FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Respect the voice of kids, youths,Unicef urges

Respect the voice of kids, youths,Unicef urges

ADULTS must respect the voices of children and young people, who should be given the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process that affect their lives and well-being, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) said yesterday in the lead u

Participation is a fundamental right of all children, enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – the world’s most widely ratified convention, which 196 countries, including Thailand, have ratified to date. As stated in the CRC, children have a right to freely express their opinions on issues that affect them and their views must be heard and taken into account in the decision-making process within the family, school or community.
By ratifying the CRC, a state commits to taking all actions necessary to protect and ensure the rights of all children, without discrimination in any form.
“Adults must create a conducive atmosphere where children can truly share their views,” said Bijaya Rajbhandari, Unicef Representative in Thailand. “We should be better at listening and respecting children’s views. It doesn’t mean that what children want must happen, but their views should not be ignored.”
Meaningful participation is essential to children’s growth and development, Rajbhandari said. Through participation – whether at home, in school, or in the community – children learn to respect others, to express themselves constructively, to make responsible life choices, and to grow into active, tolerant and democratic citizens.
“All children in Thailand should be empowered to speak up on issues that directly affect them,” Rajbhandari said. “They should not be pressured or influenced in ways that might prevent them from freely expressing their opinions or being forced to just say things that adults want to hear.”
 
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