Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/childrens-right-to-be-heard/5021287/
As I sit here in Scotland in the countryside, I can hear myself think. Or is that my inner voice? It talks to me constantly, offers advice whether it is welcome or not; it uses language to crystallize thoughts that are no more than electrical impulses in my brain; it defines who I am in both my dreams and my reality. But what of the need to share my inner voice with others? Would it mean as much if no one but me heard it? How would I feel if I tried to communicate and no one was there to listen or, even harder to accept, people were there but did not want to hear?Children face these situations every day. And sadly, many don’t have a voice in any aspect of their lives. They are not heard. It has often been said that you can tell a great deal about a society from the way that they respect the rights of their youngest and oldest members. The following quote is at the core of this right: “Every child has the right to a voice on matters that affect them and to have their views taken seriously, in accordance with their age ...