Know Your Rights
In 1989 The Convention of Children's rights was created. This basically means that countries decided what you as a young person or child are entitled to.
This set of rights has changed the way children are viewed and treated – i.e., as human beings with a distinct set of rights instead of as passive objects of care and charity.
The unprecedented acceptance of the Convention clearly shows a wide global commitment to advancing children’s rights.
What are rights?
“Rights” are things every child should have or be able to do.
All children have the same rights. These rights are listed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Almost every country has agreed to these rights. All the rights are connected to each other, and all are equally important.
Sometimes, we have to think about rights in terms of what is best for children in a situation, and what is critical to life and protection from harm. As you grow, you have more responsibility to make choices and exercise your rights.
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Smacking Ban Law
About the smacking law
Jersey is the first place in the British Isles to introduce a new smacking ban law. Children now have the same protection in law as adults from assault including:
- hitting
- smacking
- slapping
The new law puts children first and prevents parents, carers or legal guardians using any corporal punishment towards children.
The law:
- puts the rights of the child first and gives children the same protection from assault as adults
- protects the rights of children in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which states that physical punishment is not effective and can be harmful
- it will be unlawful to use physical punishment as a means of parenting your child and anyone who does could face prosecution
Why smacking is banned
Smacking a child is banned for the following reasons:
- smacking can be dangerous and harmful
- smacking sets children the wrong example
- smacking has negative effects which last long after the physical pain dies away
- smacking is not an effective way to teach children discipline
Support available for children & young people
Asking for support as a child or young person isn’t always easy, but it is a positive step. There are lots of professionals in Jersey that are there to provide support to children and young people, the following are agencies you can contact if you are in need of support.
YES project:
Providing support, advice and confidential counselling for age 12 – 25yrs.
Call: 08007350010
Email: yes@jys.je
Children and Families Hub
If you have concerns for yourself or for someone you know, please contact the Children and Families Hub who have a skilled and experienced team waiting to offer you support.
Call: 01534 519000
Email: childrenandfamilieshub@gov.je
NSPCC Childline
If you are under 19 and would like someone to talk to please contact Childline who are there to listen or offer online counselling support.
Call: 0800 1111
Website: Childline
Support available for parents
Asking for help is a positive step and there are different agencies and professionals in Jersey where you can seek support.
Children and Families Hub
The Children and Families Hub supports children and families to access the right help at the right time. The hub also responds to any safeguarding concerns you may have for a child or young person.
Parenting Support Services
The Parenting Support team, at the Bridge Child and Family Centre, aims to help parents and carers from the early years to the toddler and teenage years. They work in conjunction with family support workers in primary and secondary schools across the Island delivering the Triple P, Positive Parenting Programme.
Brighter Futures
Brighter Futures’ focus is to help build stronger families and communities and to ensure that parents and children in Jersey have brighter futures.
Family Nursing and Home Care
Family Nursing and Home Care Health Visitors, School Nurses, Community Nursery Nurses, provide help and support to parents with children up to the age of 19.
NSPCC Jersey Service Centre
The NSPCC Jersey Service Centre is an Island-wide service that provides vital support to local families.
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Employment Law for Under 16's
The Children’s (Regulation of Employment) Order governs how and where young people can be employed, whether they are being paid or not. It applies to people under 16 years old.
The law was brought in to help make sure that working children have the correct balance between their work and school life.
It’s about protecting you as a young person and is not intended to make working life difficult for you or your employer.
For more information and details of the law please click on the link below.
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Employment Law for 16 & Over
Once you turn 16 in Jersey you are counted as an adult in terms of employment law. This means that you have the same rights as any adults in the workplace.
Knowing what you are entitled to, how you should be treated and what the company has to provide is really important as it keeps both you and your employer safe.
If you are unsure about contract types, your pay or anything in-between feel free to drop into The Link and speak to one of our youth advisors. If we can’t help you we will find someone that can.
JAC’s
Jersey also has a dedicated advisory service called JAC’s (Jersey Advisory Conciliation service). They can help advise you on contracts and provide support on changes in the workplace.
To contact JAC’s
Call: 01534 730 503
Email: jacs@jacs.org.je
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When am I able to start voting in Jersey?
From the age of 16 years a young person who has lived in Jersey for last 2 years or the last 6 months plus any other period(s) living in Jersey which total five years then, regardless of your nationality, you can vote in elections.
Do you understand how voting works in Jersey? If not, please see the links below to find out how to get involved!
Are you registered?
To be able to vote at a Public Election you must be registered to vote.
To register you can download the form and hand it into your parish hall.
OR
You can now register online to vote. The online form is simple to do and doesn’t take long.
For more information see below
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Who is the Children's Commissioner and what is her role?
- Support children and young people to find out about children’s rights.
- Listen to children and young people to find out what’s important to them.
- Advise children, young people and those who care for them if they’ve got nowhere else to go with their problems.
- Influence government and other organisations who say they’re going to make a difference to children’s lives, making sure they keep their promises to children and young people.
- Speak up for children and young people on important issues – being the children’s champion.
The UNCRC is an agreement written by the member countries of the United Nations. It lists over 40 rights that belong to children and young people and is part of international law. You can read a summary of these rights by clicking on the following link Children’s rights.
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Prefer to ask us a question in person?
Get in Touch
Find Us
Youth Enquiry Service, The Link, Eagle House, La Colomberie, St Helier JE2 4QBCall Us
01534 280530Text Us
07797 778424Email Us
yes@jys.je