Exploring UNCRC through a queer lens

Held annually on 10 December, Human Rights Day (click here for more) celebrates the landmark document which recognises the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political opinion and nationality. 

Acknowledging the importance and relevance of human rights in our everyday lives, the theme of this year's celebration is "Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now" – a timely topic here in Scotland given that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) has just been enshrined in Scot’s law.

Here, Alan Massie, Digital Youth Work Officer at LGBT Youth Scotland, shares details of a recent project to help young people understand the rights afforded to them through the historic legislation.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child says that all young people have rights, regardless of where they are from or how they identify.

LGBT Youth Scotland is Scotland’s national charity for LGBTQ+ young people aged 13-25. We deliver life-changing youth work and enable young people to use their voice to create change. Our aim is to make Scotland a place where LGBTQ+ young people can flourish and thrive.

When UNCRC was enshrined in Scot’s law, it inspired me as a youth worker, and I started thinking about how I could support young people to better understand their rights.

I started a new project with a group of young people in the East of Scotland who are passionate about fairness. The group understood that all rights were universal and equal, however, they wanted to highlight the rights of LGBTQ+ people and look at each article through a queer lens.

They selected the rights that felt most relevant to their experience as LGBTQ+ young people in Scotland, and made posters that illustrated them.

Article 2: The right to non-discrimination

Shockingly, every young person in the group had experienced discrimination based on someone’s perception of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. They want to change that, and let young people know that the people around them are responsible for keeping them safe.

Article 12: The right to be listened to  

LGBTQ+ young people know how to use their voice, but they often don’t feel listened to – this is especially true for the trans and non-binary community. The group felt it was important that they conveyed all young people have the right not just to be heard, but also to be taken seriously.