You've heard of the three R's but what about the four B's?

British Columbia has proclaimed Nov. 20 as B.C. Child and Youth Day to coincide with National Child Day, an annual awareness date that celebrates the rights that children and youth everywhere are entitled to under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The convention includes 54 articles on child rights. An easy way to remember them is to think of the four B's:

* Be Safe: Children have the right to be and feel safe, including being protected from abuse, neglect, racism, exploitation and discrimination.

* Be Healthy: This is about having a healthy body and mind, including access to food, clothing, shelter, medical and dental care, and education.

* Be Yourself: Children should feel free to be themselves and get the opportunities to participate in their culture and language, and social and recreational activities.

* Be Heard: This is about children being able to express their feelings, thoughts and opinions when important decisions are being made that will affect them.

British Columbia has taken a range of actions to uphold the rights of child and youth including creating the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth, a protocol with the representative to work together to support meaningful and effective advocacy, and the formation of a Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth.

The Ministry of Children and Family Development has resources in place to help young people understand their rights and ensure staff working with children and youth understand how to uphold those rights in their daily work.

* The ministry and the Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks deliver Rights 2 Success, a program that offers interactive child rights workshops for both youth and adults, each led by one youth and one adult facilitator.

* This year, ministry staff will take part in new training to refresh their knowledge about how to support children's rights in their daily work.

* Later this year, the ministry will unveil a new youth engagement toolkit that will enable youth to help shape ministry policies, programs and services.

Quotes:

Mary McNeil, Minister of Children and Family Development -

"This day is about celebrating children as active participants in their own lives and as active citizens who can and should meaningfully contribute to decision-making. Year round, the ministry provides forums for youth to help shape our policies and includes youth in learning opportunities for staff."

Nathan Parnell, Aboriginal youth intern and former youth advisor, Ministry of Children and Family Development -

"Youth want to have their voices heard, and we have a right to be heard. When we get these opportunities we feel empowered. Learning about my rights has given me a voice so that I can speak on my behalf. All youth need to be taught their rights so they feel stronger in speaking up for themselves and their peers. In my life today, I make sure all youth I have contact with know their rights and I act as a peer advocate for them when they need help in having their voice heard."

Joan McIntyre, chair, Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth, MLA, West Vancouver-Sea to Sky -

"The select standing committee encourages opportunities to hear from youth who are advocating for themselves and other children and youth in B.C. They're able to fulfil this role precisely because they have a firm grasp on their rights. In turn, they're able to help government and legislators understand how to support their well-being."

Learn More:

UN Convention in child-friendly language: dpi.wi.gov/ccic/pdf/poster_crc_child_friendly_language.pdf

This is Me and I have Rights, a fun resource for children in government care and the adults in their lives to work on together: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/foster/pdf/this_is_me.pdf

Know Your Rights, a guide that explains the specific rights of children and youth in government care as outlined in a law called the Child, Family and Community Service Act: www.cf.gov.bc.ca/foster/pdf/know_your_rights.pdf

Your Life, Your Rights, a ministry-funded booklet developed by the Federation of B.C. Youth in Care Networks in consultation with young people and supportive adults from throughout the province: fbcyicn.ca/your-rights/

How to Make a Complaint, a guide for young people receiving services from the Ministry of Children and Family Development on what to do if their rights are not being respected: www.cf.gov.bc.ca/complaints/pdf/youth_complaints_brochure.pdf

B.C. Representative for Children and Youth: www.rcybc.ca/content/home.asp

Every Child, B.C.'s Child Rights Public Awareness Campaign: www.everychild.ca/

Media Contact:

Cindy Rose

Media Relations Manager

Ministry of Children and Family Development

250 818-4508

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect