Stories and News No. 70
The Story:
Your rights
My son Luca comes home with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that the new government has decided to distribute to students of all schools.
Luca is nine years old; he read it but did not understand much what it means.
So, he asked me to explain. All thirty articles…
The job is not easy, but maybe I have not so many alternatives besides telling it basing on his world…
"So, Luca, are you ready?"
"Yes Daddy."
"I recommend. Every time I say a word or a phrase you do not understand tell me, okay? "
"Yes."
"Article one: All children are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.'"
"What does to be equal in dignity mean?"
"It means that every child has a value. And none is more important than others. "
"And what does to be endowed with consciousness mean?"
"It means that when you do something you have to think about what you do and why you do. I go on? "
"Go ahead."
"Article two: 'Every child is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.' Is it clear?"
"I think so. It means that these statements are for all children, all of us. "
"Bravo. It seems easier that way. The rest says: ‘No distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a child belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.'"
"I do not understand this part…"
"Well, it wants to clarify again that the declaration is for all the children."
"Okay."
"Article three: ‘Every child has the right to life, liberty and security of person.' This is clear, no?"
"Yes."
"Article Four: 'No child shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.'"
"Sorry, Dad, but this is useless. What may people do with a child slave? He cannot work as an adult…"
"You are right…But you know, establishing the rights, is always better to put everything, just to be safe…"
"Okay."
"Article five: 'No child shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.'"
"What shameful treatment is?"
"A treatment is shameful if it does not respect the honor."
"And what is the honor? I have it?"
"Sure. All children have it. It represents all the beautiful things you've done, which made you earn affection and appreciation by others. "
"I hope I have gained much honor, so far."
"Yes, not bad."
"Come forward. I like it. "
"Good. Article Six: 'Every child has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.'"
"Dad… I did not understand anything…"
"It means that, everywhere they are, at home, at school, at the pitch, playing soccer, there are laws which protect children, which must enforce their rights."
'Well, playing soccer is difficult. For example, when my friend Mauro is losing, he begins to push and make fouls. It's not allowed, but he does."
"This is the reason why you need the referee."
"It is true! Without the referee everyone may do what he wants…"
20 years after treaty, millions of children still suffer: UNICEF report marks anniversary of rights convention.
Stories and news: “invented” Stories, fruit of my imagination, inspired by “true” media News.
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