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INTRODUCTION:
In many peoples' eyes, the constitutional rights of young
people are
undefined, and negotiable only within the context of the voting
populace or by elected officials. However, many youth and adults
believe that young people themselves should have a say in making
the rules that govern their lives, in an honest, powerful, and
purposeful way. These links will lead you to websites that
detail the issues youth face throughout the U.S. and Canada as
face as rights.
POINT TO PONDER:
The
National Youth Rights Association, a leading advocacy group
located in Washington, DC, believes that there are two distinct
forms of youth rights: entitlement rights and civil
rights.
Entitlement
rights are rights that are "due" to people, giving
people the ability to fulfill their other rights. An example is
the
United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the
Child. These might include rights to:
-
Employment, education, a certain level of income, a certain
quality of housing, race and gender representation in the
workplace, freedom from economic insecurity, and health care.
 Civil rights
guarantee the ability of individuals to carry out their rights.
In the US, these rights are outlined in the Constitution and the
Bill of Rights, and were reinforced by the 13th and 14th
amendments, and the Civil Rights Act. Some of those rights
include:
- Freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom
of the press, and protection for those accused of crimes.
RESOURCES:
Popular youth rights issues include Age Discrimination, Curfews,
Drinking Age, Driving, Economics, Emancipation, Entertainment,
Free Speech, and the Voting Age. Below are several
categories we have identified. We have included a few select
youth-created or youth-oriented websites and organizations
that can help you learn more about these issues.
Anti-Curfew
Curfew Protest
This page has links that comprise the most extensive listing of
articles relating to curfew laws and their destruction of
responsibility and parental control.
www.curfew.org
Provides ammunition for teenagers and adults that are looking to
battle curfews in their hometown. This website is intended to help
fight laws passed in localities, not the rules of malls, stores,
or other private venues. Includes
a brief history of curfews,
frequently asked questions about curfews,
federal curfew legislation, a listing of cities with curfew laws,
how-to organize and execute protests, useful quotes, how to make
stickers, and curfew artwork.
NYRA
"Repeal Youth Curfews" Webpage
Includes frequently asked questions
about curfews, expert studies proving that curfews have no affect
on crime, actions against curfews across the nation.
Anti-Censorship
Peacefire
Advocates
open Internet access for all young people. Includes software that
negates popular at-home blocking software.
Youth Free
Expression Network
Opposes
youth censorship and encourages young people to take action for
free expression. A program of the National Coalition Against
Censorship.
Anti-Criminalization
of Youth
No War On Youth
Media and organizing information relevant to building opposition
to the criminalization of youth, focusing particularly on
California's Gang Violence And Juvenile Crime Prevention Act.
Youth for Social Justice
YSJ is a network of youth, run by youth, who encourage each other
to take leadership roles in their communities and schools, to
increase understanding of social justice issues relevant to them
such as sexism, ageism, racism, homophobia, multiculturalism, and
environmental and community development issues.
Anti-Ageism & Discrimination against youth
Resources on Adultism
This Freechild page includes links to a dozen sites that explore Adultism. You'll find definitions, deep explorations, and
other information to inform and combat this enemy of youth
everywhere.
Youth
Discrimination in the Workplace
This Freechild page includes information on the rights of youth at
work, and information to fight discrimination.
One and Four
A new blog by youth rights fighter Alex Koroknay-Palicz. Offers insight,
details, and resources for youth rights advocates.
The SNAYR is brought to you by
The Freechild Project in partnership with
National Youth Rights Association
NYRA has been working for more than
five
years to bring young people across the United States a society where
they experience
political, social, and economic, and cultural equality, and where the rights of youth
are equal to those of adults.
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