Module Three: Children’s rights and health practice

• Study Session One: The child as an active participant outlines one of the fundamental rights contained in the UN Convention: the right of children to express their views and have them taken seriously, commonly described as the right to participation. The session will help health workers to appreciate the capacity of children to influence decisions pertaining to their health, by exploring different ways in which children can be actively involved in decision making.
• Study Session Two: Best interests of the child and non-discrimination explores two key principles in the provision of appropriate and effective health services to children: the need to give consideration to the best interests of the child when making any decision that affects that child, and the requirement to ensure that no child is ever discriminated against in relation to accessing health care. It provides guidance on how health workers can apply these principles in their practice.
• Study Session Three: Addressing violence against children explores the nature of violence against children and looks at the impact of neglect, physical, sexual and emotional violence and abuse on children. It explains why it is important for health practitioners to understand about the risk factors for violence against children, and to recognise key signs and indicators for abuse.
• Study Session Four: Child friendly health facilities introduces the idea of health facilities which are designed with children in mind and describes how they can be developed to promote children’s right to be heard, to be inclusive, and to support their best interests in relation to their health. It provides information on suggested standards that should guide the design of health facilities for children and how to produce a charter for children’s rights.