The United Nations Resolutions on the Rights of Children.

One might argue that the UN is either too busy, (or perhaps too ineffectual), to enforce the resolutions it passes and in particular the resolutions regarding children's rights.

In 1989, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the “Convention on the Rights of the Child" This highly important treaty, which has since been ratified by all but two countries on earth, spells out the rights of all children to health, to education, to an adequate standard of living, to leisure and play, to protection from exploitation, to express their own opinions and to much more.

Some of the interesting articles (applicable to our vision) are...

Article 13:  

1. The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice.

2. The exercise of this right may be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary: (a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; or (b) For the protection of national security or of public order, or of public health or morals.

Article 14:  

1. States Parties shall respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

2. States Parties shall respect the rights and duties of the parents and when applicable, legal guardians, to provide direction to the child in the exercise of his or her right in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child.

UNICEF and Educating Children on Their Rights.

In line with the now agreed 'rights' UNICEF seems to have asked itself the question:

‘How can people (particularly children) make sure their rights are fulfilled if they don't know what they are?'

One answer:

‘Cartoons explaining Children's Rights are a UNICEF broadcast initiative that aims to inform people around the world about child rights. So far, the effort has forged partnerships with nearly 70 animation studios in 32 countries that have developed 30-second non-verbal public service announcements (PSAs)'

‘…with captivating images and cross-cultural appeal, animation is the perfect tool for informing children about their rights and society about its obligations, all over the world. Through Cartoons for Children's Rights, broadcasters can use their influence to help make the Convention on the Rights of the Child relevant and important to the life of every child.'

UNICEF distributes the PSAs to broadcasters for the cost of the tape. The spots have aired on more than 2,000 television stations globally. Some have won prestigious awards.

In one telling cartoon (No 23 on their website; on the theme "Children have the right to freedom of thought", UN Rights - Article 14, by MTV Animation and created by Machi Tantillo the line, 'children only come through their parents but they (the parents) don't own them' is a critical factor in the struggled to help children gain access to a more rounded view of the world.  

The actual wording of cartoon 23...

"Your children, are not YOUR children, 
They are the sons and the daughters of life's longing for itself,
They come through you, but not from you
And although they are with you, they belong not to you,
You can give them your love but not your thoughts,
They have their own thoughts,
They have their own thoughts."

The full list of chilling cartoons can be found on http://www.unicef.org/crcartoons/ and this particular cartoon is listed on page four.