Myths and Misconceptions

This free, downloadable booklet from UNICEF UK's Rights Respecting Schools Award team breaks down some common myths and misconceptions about children’s rights which have arisen in their work with teachers, parents and school communities. As an international legal document, the Convention on the Rights of the Child may sometimes seem complex and difficult to interpret in practice. This can lead to misunderstandings about what each right means and how the Convention applies in the real world. For example: “Children have the right to be loved. Children have the right to make mistakes. With rights come responsibilities.” All of these statements are commonly held misunderstandings around what a right is and what children’s rights mean in practice. This booklet provides a really useful way to address misunderstandings within a school community and can be used as a tool for discussion with staff and parents when implementing rights respecting standards.