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Who makes sure your rights are protected?

Your rights are there to keep you safe and to make sure you are treated fairly. In this country there are laws to make sure this happens and all adults have to make sure these are followed.

However sometimes your rights might not always be respected. Organisations like UNICEF, which is a part of the United Nations that works for children, challenge governments around the world when children's rights aren't respected.

In Scotland, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner works to protect your rights. The commissioner can challenge the government when they think a law will go against your rights.

Although children’s rights apply to every child in the world, in some places these rights aren’t always respected. Many children don’t experience the same freedoms we do in Scotland.

When rights clash

Working out what is best for you and your rights isn't always easy.

Some of your rights might clash with other rights at certain times. For example:

• Article 5 of the UNCRC says that your parents should guide you when you are growing up, because you might not always know the best decisions to make.
• Article 16 says that you have a right to privacy.
• These articles could clash if your parents wanted to check you were being safe online by looking at your phone.

In a situation like this, the most important thing is to think about what is in the best interests of you as a child or young person.

This is different from not respecting your rights at all or forcing you to do things that are not in your best interest.

When you are growing up you rely on adults to help you develop and make the right choices and the UNCRC makes sure adults consider your best interests.