35 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations 35 years ago, on November 20th, 1989. It was ratified by Portugal on September 21st, 1990. The treaty contains 54 articles including the right to safety and protection from all forms of harm and the right to participation. These provisions are also applicable to the digital environment.

Themes related to communication and the media are particularly highlighted in articles 12, 13 and 17. Article 12 states the right to free expression in all matters that affects the child, taking into consideration age and maturity. Article 13 refers to the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, while article 17 states the right to direct access to information.

These issues underlies the bYou project, which aims to listen to the voices of children and young people with the purpose of understanding and problematizing the relationship and practices of young people with the media.

Mais informarções em byou@ics.uminho.pt