New online debate on the theme of ‘freedom’
From September 10 to October 08
Our debate theme for this month is ‘freedom’
Article 15 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child says that governments should recognise the rights of children to ‘freedom of association’ and ‘peaceful assembly’. This means that children and young people should be allowed to meet, hang out and discuss issues in public places.
Everyone has this right under the European Convention on Human Rights (in article 11).
The Convention on the Rights of the Child says that no limits can be placed on this right, except for those in line with the law, and for reasons of national security, public order, safety, and public health.
In 2003, the Government passed the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, which gave the police in England new powers to disperse (move away) young people under 16 if more than two of them were together in a public place, and making other members of the public feel upset or scared. Young people under 16 can also be removed from certain public areas after 9pm. Some people think this limits children’s rights to hang out in public places.
What do you think?
Should groups of children and young people be able to gather together in public places?
Have you been stopped from hanging out in a public place with your friends?
Do you think the police use their new powers fairly towards young people?
Do you think a child’s right to ‘freedom of association’ is protected as well an adult’s?
Join in the debate!
On Friday, September 14, 2007 Jules said:
If young people want to assemble peacefuly to express they’re politcal views and demonstrate, they should be able to.
If young people want to gather with they’re friends in a public space, as long as they are not causing distress to members of the public, they should be able to.
On Monday, September 17, 2007 Eni C said:
Should groups of children and young people be able to gather together in public places?
yes and no. yes because they should meet up and communicate but no because people might think they are making trouble if its a big group.
no i have not been stopped from hanging out in a public place with friends
no they abuse them i think the police use their new powers badly towards young people
no i dont think child’s right to ‘freedom of association’ is protected as well an adult’s.
On Saturday, September 22, 2007 Kalika said:
I agree with Eni when she says that police abuse their powers over young people. Why shouldn’t young people be able to go out to the park with their friends just because they are under 16. Isn’t the government trying to encourage children to be more active?
I do understand that there are some young pople who behave anti-socially but that is the minority not the majority and the behaviour of some young people means that all of us are getting a rough deal. If adults behave anti socially all adults aren’t stereotyped as anti-social so why should we be?
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There was a dispersal order on the park near my home (which i find very strange.. young people can’t hang around in a public park?) and my friends and I were in it after dark (there were around seven of us I think) and we got told that we weren’t allowed to be there because there was a dispersal order on it. My friends and I weren’t causing any trouble, yet we were told to move on. Do I not have the same right to be in a public park because I was under 16 at the time?
Surely everyone has the same right to freedom of movement, regardless of their age?