The 3 Obligatory Pillars Slide Show:
Click to view A Journey From Promise to Reality Presentation. This presentation outlines in greater detail the obligations we have to fulfill the rights outlined in the Convention for all children. 

"Dignity is a necessary condition for democracy because citizens require dignity if they are actually to govern themselves." (Ober, 2012)

One of the Convention on the Rights of the Child's key strengths is that it recognizes that children's rights must be actively understood and promoted by adults and children alike if the promise of Convention is ever to become a reality for all children. In it, Article 42 obligates us to undertake to make the principles and provisions of the Convention widely known, by appropriate and active means, to both adults and children. The active fulfillment of this obligation is to implement a quality children's rights curriculum in every school that is referenced to the Convention that is implemented in a spirit of participation, inclusion, and responsibility. This curriculum must include the following three principles: 

The implementation of these three principles creates a safe and enabling environment for the engagement of children as they build and promote a rights respecting culture that is referenced to the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. See below for more detail:

The 3 Obligatory Pillars Referenced to The Convention on the Rights of the Child:

Click on the image to enlarge.

Article 42:

States Parties undertake to make the principles and provisions of the Convention widely known, by appropriate and active means, to adults and children alike.

Article 3:

1. In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

Article 5:

States Parties shall respect the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents, or where applicable, the members of the extended family or community as provided for by local custom, legal guardians or other persons legally responsible for the child, to provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the child of the rights recognized in the present Convention.

Article 12:

1. States Parties shall assure the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child. 

Article 13:

1. The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice. 
2. The exercise of this right may be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary:
a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; or
b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.

Article 14:

1. States Parties shall respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion [spiritual practice].
2. States Parties shall respect the rights and duties of the parents, and where applicable, legal guardians, to provide direction to the child in the exercise of his or her right in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child. 

Article 15:

1. States Parties recognize the rights of the child to freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assembly.
2. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of these rights other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.