The United NaTIONS cONVENTION ON THE rIGHTS OF THE cHILD
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was created by Unicef, which acts as a tool to advocate for all children's rights. Remember the 3 P's: protection, provision, and participation. The UNCRC consists of 54 articles, each outlining a different right that applies to every child. (Unicef 2013).
There are certain rights that suggest children should be taught Critical Media Literacy. Below are a list of the article numbers and why it is relevant to this topic.
Article 3: All adults should do what is best for you. When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children (UNCRC 2013).
Article 12: You have the right to give your opinion, and for adults to listen and take it seriously (UNCRC 2013).
Article 13: You have the right to find out things and share what you think with others, by talking, drawing, writing or in any other way unless it harms or offends other people (UNCRC 2013).
Article 17: You have the right to get information that is important to your well-being, from radio, newspaper, books, computers, and other sources. Adults should make sure that the information you are getting is not harmful, and help you find and understand the information you need (UNCRC 2013).
There are certain rights that suggest children should be taught Critical Media Literacy. Below are a list of the article numbers and why it is relevant to this topic.
Article 3: All adults should do what is best for you. When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children (UNCRC 2013).
- It is in the best interest of the child to learn about critical media literacy. Therefore, it is adults responsibility, including teachers and parents, to ensure that they teach children about what media is and the message it carries, and how to think critically about this.
Article 12: You have the right to give your opinion, and for adults to listen and take it seriously (UNCRC 2013).
- All children have the right to express their views on a certain topic. Therefore, when children are asked to think critically, their ideas, opinions, and suggestions need to be understood and taken seriously by adults. This will help to create active citizens in our society. This is how change will take place.
Article 13: You have the right to find out things and share what you think with others, by talking, drawing, writing or in any other way unless it harms or offends other people (UNCRC 2013).
- According to this article, children can express their views in any way that is harmless. In this case then, children have the right to express themselves through the use of technology and media. Children can use items such as cameras to share information to others. They also have the right to find out things, which means that adults cannot hide and 'protect' children from the internet and media, but should expose children to the media and explain ways to deal with this (through critical media literacy).
Article 17: You have the right to get information that is important to your well-being, from radio, newspaper, books, computers, and other sources. Adults should make sure that the information you are getting is not harmful, and help you find and understand the information you need (UNCRC 2013).
- Children are being exposed to different forms of media on a daily basis, whether adults want to admit it or not. Therefore, it is crucial for adults to take the time and explain what media is and the implications and misinformation that often comes with this. This is why teaching critical media literacy to children as young as possible is necessary. It is their right to make sure that the information they are accessing (especially through media) is accurate, and if it is not, they should be made aware of this.