Maze Advocacy - your rights, your voice

My advocate has very much changed my life, without them I would probably be stuck in a home somewhere. They allow me to communicate with the people around me in an easier way.

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Your Rights

“Knowing your rights can help you to feel more in control of what is happening”

Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, you have the right to:

• express your point of view
• receive information in a way that you can understand
• good healthcare and to be looked after properly

Even if you may not have many choices over what is happening in your life, you still have rights. An advocate can help you put your rights into action.

How do I use my rights?

Some rights are legally enforceable and some are not.

Your rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are not enforceable but they can be used as guidelines for how things should be and to argue your point of view.

Your rights under the Human Rights Act are legally enforceable and must be followed as they are part of UK law. This means that they can be used to bring a case to court or to argue that something should be changed.

Quotes from young people about their rights:

“People’s views and opinions – especially about their own lives – should be treated with respect. This is sometimes ignored by those in positions of power. It is a right often denied in relationships between those providing a service to young people and young people themselves.”

“Rights give you courage to carry on and believe, to keep your hope“

“Rights are more important than we often realize, could you imagine a world with no rights? We would be controlled and have no say, it would be a very sad existence!”