Why Rights Matter to Us Series

Tyesha | 23 | Western Australia

How many young people know about key human rights frameworks like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). My guess would be that it’s not as many as we might hope.  

These frameworks let us know what rights we have and recognise when they are being violated. For example, Article 12 of the CRC says young people have the right to be heard in decisions that affect them. Yet, the sad reality is - young people’s voices and lived experience (no matter how valid) are often not taken seriously.  

Consider that 78.9% of young people in Australia want to be included in government decision-making, but many cite limited opportunities to actually get involved (Office for Youth, 2024). And when opportunities do exist - they’re often tokenistic. Too often, we’re invited to ‘consultations’ not to genuinely influence decisions, but so someone can tick a box that says “yep, we talked to the young people”. 

Sometimes it feels like the outcome has already been decided, before we’re even asked for our thoughts/opinions. We bring a wealth of knowledge, lived experience, and ideas to the table on issues that affect us - only to walk away feeling dismissed, unheard, and like nothing we said made a difference anyway. ‘Disempowering’ doesn’t even begin to describe how this feels.  

However, knowing our rights gives us a more solid foundation to stand on. When our advocacy is grounded in official frameworks like the CRC and the UDHR, our voices carry more weight. We can’t be dismissed as easily and can remind decision-makers of their obligations.  

Suddenly, our rights are not just a long list of words buried in some old document from decades ago. They become tools we can use to make sure we are heard and that our contributions are valued. 

I didn’t even learn about the CRC or the UDHR until I was 19 or 20 - when I was no longer legally a child. Why aren’t we taught about our rights from a young age? Young people not knowing their rights benefits those who benefit most from us being silenced. When we don’t know what we are entitled to, things stays nice and comfy for those who would rather not engage with our views. 

Frameworks like the CRC and UDHR remind us that being included, listened to, and considered is not an honour or privilege, nor is it a favour or a reward – it is a human right. It’s something we are inherently entitled to. Something we should not have to earn or fight for. But unless we know what our rights are, they are much easier to deny, and we become much easier to dismiss. 

Let’s commit to raising awareness and making rights real.