In 1989 the U.N. signed a charter for children's rights that was ratified by all nations except the USA and Somalia. The types of rights are split into 3 categories: Provision, Protection and Participation. Essentially, it states that children should be provided for, while being protected from harm and at the same time facilitated in participating in society.
It is this idea that they should be active in society that has evolved in recent history. Not so long ago, “Children should have been seen and not heard.” The installation of these rights meant that not only should children be heard but they should actually be listened to and allowed to make their own decisions. The idea that children should be provided for and protected are much older concepts that many of us would view so obvious it need not to be stated in a civilized society, such as 'children have the right not to be kidnapped, tortured, killed, sexually assaulted, etc.'
Other rights which are new to history may cause a bit of controversy; “Children have the right to their own space and privacy.” Not so long ago this would have been considered a privilege for adults, never mind children. Unfortunately, our media fuelled hyper-paranoid society will have parents trampling all over the child's right to privacy in their quest to discover whether their child is up to 'no good' or 'being groomed' by the ubiquitous paedophile.
Children's right to their own religion and beliefs is another one I take issue with from a practical viewpoint. Firstly, religious families begin indoctrination of the child at such an early age that it will become a part of their identity before they are self-aware enough to make a decision on the matter. We also have to consider the beliefs involved, if for example the parent's belief involves the child 'burning in hell' for atheism or worshiping a false idol. In my experience, religious families side with their religious documents over political ones.
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