Defining Rights and Decent Work
I invite you to define young people's rights and decent work. As we close this session, you also look at Code of Ethics and Conduct, and Power and Influence. Let us continue discussing!
Rights are variously construed as legal, social, or moral freedoms to act or refrain from acting, or entitlements to be acted upon or not acted upon, while decent Work refers to opportunities for women and men to obtain work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.
Hi Gregory! Powerful contributions. Now cite some of the civil rights and docuemtns that address youth rights.
Also attend to issues of Ethics and Code of Conduct in youth development practice, as well as young people's influence and power.
What are your views?
Let us continue discussing.
Hi Greg Daka
Would you agree that the rights of the youth are violated by not engaging them in decision making? More often we assume we know what is good for the youth and so we decide for them. Recognising the potentials of the youth and involving them in decision making would elicit their cooperation in programmes that will harness their potentials. What do you think?
Young People's rights are the same as basic human rights; right to life, right to freedom,right to fair hearing or trial etc and decent work in my own understanding is when opportunities for employment or means of livelihood are provided for young people in a manner that does not offend the human dignity or does not take away their basic human rights.
Ebiho Agun--Shining Star 09:19, 16 February 2011 (UTC)
Hi Ebiho, Nice points. Now make your views heard on Ethics and Code of Conduct in youth development, as well as on youth infleunce and powwer.
Let us continue discussing.
Young People's rights are basic human rights, such as right to life, right to freedom of association, right to choice, right to be protected from torture and inhuman treatment. On the other hand, decent work means providing a conducive environment for jobs for young people . --Luckyluka 12:26, 16 February 2011 (UTC)
Hi Lucky! good points. I like your articulation of civil rights that young people enjoy. Now can you cite some of the documetns that particularly address the rights of young people.
Also attend to issues of Ethics and Code of Conduct in youth development practice. Make your views heard!
Let us continue discussing!
- Young People's rights are the rights youths have to choose what skills to have and the right on where to work and stay.
- Decent Work is work that that is fit enough for youths and adults and earns a reasonable income for the person doing it. "Decent work sums up the aspirations of people in their working lives. It involves opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their concerns, organize and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity and treatment for all women and men" (ILO, 2011:1).
- Code of Ethics and Conduct is a set of principles that govern the way people must behave towards each other and the environment in a community or organisation.
- Power is the ability for a person to do something when they want and how they want.
- Influence is the ability for a person or group of persons to change a person's or groups behaviour or speech into a particular direction whether good or bad.
Hi Gabriel! Powerful points!
Now identify some of the Dos and Dots in youth development practice. I Like your contributions they are good.
Let us continue discussing!
Youth rights such as access to education, a right to voting, right to a decent meal etc have the right to employment The word "decent" is "satisfactory, of an acceptable standard". "Of good quality and in adequate quantity" A decent job is at least sufficient in quality and quantity?
on issues partaining to power and influence, youth are mainely influenced and have very little to influences becourse of the dominance in power by the adults, seeing that most adults do not want to be lead by a youth or a senior citizen.
Nice points! let us keep exploring more ideas then we will sum up our discussions today.
hallow freinds,
Youth rights refers to a set of philosophies intended to enhance civil rights for young people. They are a response to the oppression of young people, with advocates challenging ephebiphobia, adultism and ageism through youth participation,while Decent Work refers to opportunities for youth to obtain work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.
However in most countries especially in Africa youth rights and decent work has not been given an ear and prioty.its only in recent times that we have seen the power of youth advocacy in force in Egypt and Tunisia.
I wouldn't say that youth have been accorded decent work if they are working but i would say young people are working in conditions that are deplorable and there wage earnnings does not much the minimum wage that has been set by governments.
let me also draw you my colleagues to the idea of youth institutions (youth councils) as tools for promoting the rights of young people.the youth councils has not helped much in promoting the rights of young people for positive youth engagement.
Hi Kabingu! Good points indeed. Highlight some of the civil rights for the benefit of class.
As you deal with issues of policy you could actually gain something for advocacy especially on decent work for young people which you have observed that it does not get the attention of the priority it needs from policy makers.
Interesting is an observation you have raised on " Youth Councils". should these institution be driven by civil society to make them more responsive to the needs of young people?
Let us continue discussing!
Youth rights are human rights which is enshrined in Africa Youth Charter while Decent work means the right to obtain reasonable work without discremination.
Dear Ubandoma,
I love your simple definition of Youth rights and Decent work. However, a little more explanation of these concepts would be beautiful. Would you agree with me that working in a decent work environment and being paid a decent wage/salary in addition to what you said would make the definition on Decent work concrete? What are you views?
To me decent work could also mean any kind of work that does not expose the youth at risk. These include such jobs were ther is socila protection,rights are clearly defined and known by the youths before enganging in such work and the rewards equals the amount of work done by the youth undertaking such work.
Hi Everybody,
Young people's right are human dignity equality and freedom of all citizens, Life, decision making, expression and associaton. Availablity of supporting services and enabling environment for employment of decent work.
I would say in summary that young people's rights are enablers that create opporunities for a young person to effectively empower themselves in society by having access to such things as education, sanitation and so forth. Decent work in my opinion invovles not only the monetary aspects of being paid well but also environmental aspects of working in a clean, safe and healthy environment. Ethics are important to any society and work as boundaries of acceptable behaviour.
