Most parents and guardians in Ukraine are aware of their key role in protecting children’s rights, but more than a third admit that they sometimes violate these rights, and 89% of parents surveyed do not have a clear understanding of the rights of the child as defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which covers the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of children, according to the results of a new UNICEF survey.
“Although 35% of parents and 38% of adolescents have heard of the convention, only 11.3% of all respondents can say that they are familiar with its provisions. At the same time, almost 20% of parents and 15% of adolescents are not familiar with it at all,” the publication states at the beginning of International Parenting Month.
According to the survey, the best-known rights are the right to education (known to 80% of parents and 76% of adolescents), the right to health (76% and 67%), and the right to protection from violence (66% and 63%), while less well known are the right to privacy (known to 35% of parents and 45% of adolescents) and the right to identity (44% of teenagers).
“People are more aware of ‘visible’ or material rights, while ‘psychosocial’ rights are neglected,” UNICEF reports.
It is noted that educational institutions are the main source of knowledge for adolescents, and social networks are the main source for parents. Among adolescents, 34% learn about children’s rights at school, and 39% from their parents. Among parents, 41% obtain such information from social networks, and 33% from traditional media.
“The responses of parents in our survey show that they are determined to better protect their children’s rights and provide them with all the necessary support and care. At the same time, they are genuinely concerned about how their actions affect their children in such stressful times,” commented Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative in Ukraine.
The teenagers who participated in the survey noted that their rights were most often violated through psychological or physical abuse, ignoring their opinions, or violating their privacy.
“We must do everything possible to protect and ensure the rights of children everywhere, including at home. Parents and guardians are going through extremely difficult times and trying to cope with the consequences of the war, so we are committed to doing everything possible to help them raise their children,” said Daria Gerasymchuk, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation.
Currently, 67% of adolescents aged 14 to 18 said they would turn to their parents for protection if their rights were violated, while 24% consider teachers to be their second most important source of support.
“Parents are the main support for a child’s development and well-being, but it is difficult for them to cope alone, especially in wartime. A solid foundation for children’s rights is laid at home, but it must be reinforced by policies and services that help parents and guardians care for the next generation,” Mammadzade noted.
The survey revealed a number of characteristics, such as gender differences in perception: 81% of women believe that shouting or using abusive language is a form of violence against children, while only 68% of men share this view.
Other findings include limited family dialogue about children’s rights and well-being: only 22% of parents and 17% of adolescents reported that children’s rights are discussed in their family on a monthly basis or more often.
Another finding is that adolescents demonstrate more autonomous views of their rights. For example, 15% believe that children have the right to refuse any medical treatment, and 12% believe that it is acceptable not to attend school. In addition, 34% of adolescents value freedom of opinion, compared to 27% of parents.
It is noted that Telegram is a universal channel for both parents and teenagers: it is chosen by more than 70% of the audience as the most convenient source of information. TikTok is popular among young people (66%), while Facebook is popular among parents (56%). YouTube is used by both parents and teenagers (47% and 64%, respectively), and Instagram is used by 37% and 47%, respectively.
UNICEF has announced that it is launching a campaign to strengthen knowledge of children’s rights and calls for children to be respected and given the opportunity to defend their rights.
The survey, “Perceptions of Children’s Rights: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experiences in Ukrainian Families,” was conducted by Gradus Research and includes responses from 600 parents aged 19 to 55 and 400 teenagers aged 14 to 18 across Ukraine.
