The issues

We believe that everybody deserves certain rights no matter who they are or what they do. Why does this standard seem not to apply to young people? Why aren't these people's rights respected? Why do we, as a society, find it okay to treat young people as less-than-humans or yet-to-be-humans? We do we often justify treating them in a way no adult ought to be treated?

Dignity

We believe everybody has an inherit worth and deserve to be valued and respected. We believe young people should not be degraded, dehumanized, instrumentalized, objectified, or humiliated. Unfortunately not everyone agrees with us...

Why is it acceptable to humiliate a child over "bad" behavior? Or be indifferent to their mental health struggles "because" of their academic achievements? Or deny them services (I'm not even talking about "dangerous" ones)? Or treat them like they are "the cause of all crime"? Or treat them as cohorts and not individuals?

Violations

General

• Claims made by young people are believed less than these made my adults because young people are "manipulative" (even though adults are likely to be more manipulative^{[citation needed]}). When an adult makes a claim, a good-faith attempt at verifying it is often made. When a minor makes such a claim, such attempt isn't made. Why is that?
• We photograph kids (who are old enough to understand the situation) without them knowing and/or consenting. Why is that acceptable?
• We use cruel and unusual punishment against children. Or when punishing them we don't follow basic due process. Why is that normalized?
• Mental health issues of young people are not taken seriously. An adult who feels overwhelmed can often take a Friday off in one of the following weeks. If that isn't possible, they are usually not expected to do regular work on the weekends at all (and if they are they get other days off). And adults can usually expect to be told their work schedule for a few following weeks. It is also acceptable for them to try to pick up less tasks. When a student feels overwhelmed, however they cannot easily reduce their task load or try to get a day off.

At home

• We expect children to act with unnecessary urgency for no apparent reason. Why is that acceptable?

At school

• We tie students' respect to grades and behavior (this includes behavior that doesn't directly disturb others). Why do we find this acceptable?
• We publicly humiliate students for small mistakes. Why is that justifiable?

By businesses

• Businesses often deny non-dangerous services to young people, because to them it appears they will disturb the business or others, sometimes even on false assumptions (in situations where presence of youths could benefit the business).

Safety

We believe that everyone deserves to feel safe. To be more precise, we believe that a person has a right not to be placed in an unsafe situation and to leave one, to the extent possible.

Why do we find it acceptable not to take proper action against bullying in school? Or not to remove them from their home when their safety is at risk?

Violations

At home

• When the parents are unsafe kids are often kept at the home. The parents' right to have kids is more important that the kids' right, especially the right to safety. Why is that?
• When a minor runs from home, they are often brought back without a welfare investigation. It happens even if they claim abuse. Why is that acceptable?