For Canada and the world to be truly successful, we must recognize the inherent rights of children to have a say in their lives from a young age, suggests an Island man urging Canadians to declare Nov. 20 Rights of the Child Day.

B次元官网网址淕raduated steps into democratic self-reliance must begin at birth and not be one giant leap at the age of majority,B次元官网网址� says John McDonald, an ex-school teacher and trustee living in Duncan.

The initiative would recognize the anniversary of the United NationsB次元官网网址� adoption of Declaration of the Rights of the Child and raise awareness of the important, comprehensive document, creating potentially far-reaching effects.

B次元官网网址淚f kids knew what their rights are and what theyB次元官网网址檙e not, it would be a better world. They would understand democracy,B次元官网网址� he said.

The initiativeB次元官网网址檚 roots date to 1924 and the Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child, followed by the 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the child adopted by the UN.

On Nov. 20, 1989, that declaration was adopted by the UNB次元官网网址檚 General Assembly. Canada ratified it several years later.

McDonald categorizes the Rights of the Child under three main headings:

B次元官网网址� The Right to Survival B次元官网网址� through the provision of adequate food, shelter, clean water and primary health care;

B次元官网网址� The Right to Protection B次元官网网址� from abuse, neglect and exploitation, including the right to special protection in wartime;

B次元官网网址� The Right to Develop B次元官网网址� in a safe environment, through provision of formal education, constructive play, advanced health care and the opportunity to participate in the social, economic and religious life of their culture, free from discrimination.

Essential to the initiative is introducing democracy at a young age as a way of raising democratically minded adults.

B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 raise minors with no say into their lives,B次元官网网址� McDonald says. B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 raise our kids in an undemocratic household and school system then send them out on their own and say, B次元官网网址楴ow you need to live in a democracy.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

He suggests that if children are going to learn about democracy, it needs to begin when theyB次元官网网址檙e young.

People B次元官网网址� children included B次元官网网址� tend strongly to do and be what is expected of them, he says.

B次元官网网址淭herefore, the greatest danger to our society is the concept that young people are irresponsible, stupid, cannot think and are incapable of building the future that the present adults must live in. Well, you better have faith in our offspring for it is their world that we (adults) will have to live in,B次元官网网址� he says, adding, B次元官网网址渁dults have not given us much to boast about in human development. Is it time to include children in future planning.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com