Rights aren’t a bonus- They are a bare minimum!

Ariba|NSW

Ariba – Human Rights

To often when grown-ups discuss young people, it can be about anything really. We’re cast as either tomorrow’s hope or today’s headache. Rarely are we acknowledged as individuals with our own insights worth hearings. That’s precisely why the concept of rights resonates significantly with us.

For me, rights aren’t just about the ability to speak- we already do, loudly and clearly with purpose. It is about whether anyone actually listens and respects what we say. Having rights means we don’t have to wait until we’re older or more “important” to deserve safely, dignity or opportunities. We deserve those things already.

Living in regional Australia, I’ve seen how easy it is for young people outside the cities to be forgotten in big decisions. But I've also seen how much strength and creativity regional youth bring when we do get the chance to be included. Our perspectives are different which is exactly what makes them so valuable.

I love when youth engagement is rights-based, because that’s when it actually feels genuine. It’s not just asking us what we think for the sake of it. It’s trusting us to help shape real solutions. In Youth Parliament, for example, I’ve seen how young people’s ideas can start conversations that adults sometimes overlook. When we’re given responsibility, we rise to it.

At the end of the day, respecting youth rights isn’t about ticking a box. It’s about building spaces where young people feel seen and valued. Because when we feel valued, we don’t just step for ourselves, we step up for our communities too.

That’s why I believe rights aren’t a bonus. They’re the foundation every young person needs to be able to to grow, lead and manage change.