You have the right to give your opinion
Adults should listen to you and take your opinions seriously, provided you understand a situation well enough to give an informed opinion.
You have the right to be informed
You have the right to receive explanations that are clear and understandable to you.
You have the right to share
You have the right to share everything that you learn, think and feel by speaking, drawing, writing or in any other way that you wish to express yourself, provided it doesn’t harm others.
You have the right to think
You have the right to have different opinions or religions from those of your friends, provided you listen to others and you also take an interest in their ideas. It’s important to learn how to share your thoughts without hurting others.
You have the right associate with others
As a resident, you have the right to associate with other young people (or adults) peacefully and without violence, as long as no one is harmed and no one is hated or excluded.
What does
the law say?
"Every child can express their opinion freely on any matter that affects them. Their opinion is taken into account, in light of their age and maturity.” Article 15, paragraph 5, sets out children’s ‘right to rights’ in Luxembourg’s new Constitution The constitution is the book that contains all the rights of the people and the rules that must be adhered to in a country. The Constitution of Luxembourg also reiterates that the participation of children and young people is crucial.
The governmentThe government is made up of all the ministers who lead the country. has therefore come up with an Action Plan so that organisations give you a voice.
The Constitution of Luxembourg was amended on 1 July 2023 to underline the importance of your participation as a young person.
The government held discussions with representatives from society and youth organisations to develop an Action Plan on youth rightsand strengthen your participation. Some structures already exist to give you a voice, for example in municipalities and schools. These organisations allow you to share your opinion and express yourself on decisions that affect you, such as sports, community life or your diet.
What does that mean?
People are always telling you what to do: eat your vegetables, do your homework, stop using screens, etc. It can be very annoying at times! But adults set rules because they are responsible for doing what’s best for you. You have the right to know the reasons behind these rules and their purpose. Adults should listen to you and take your opinion into account. For example, you should have a say in your choice of sport or your after-school activities. At both primary and secondary school, you have the right to participate in the decisions that affect you.
! Adults make the decisions, but they should listen to your opinion
Contact OKaJu if adult's rules are not taken to protect your health nor your best interests
To participate and give your opinion, you need to be well informed
The information shared on TV, the radio, in newspapers or online is created by adults for adults. To keep informed about what’s going on in the world, there are special https://www.1jour1actu.com/actus
https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/RC-014082/arte-journal-junior/TV channels , newspapers and websites for children. They explain complicated matters in a clear way.
How can I keep informed, participate and make my voice heard?
Different organisations give you a chance to share your opinion about what matters to you, such as student committees, the National Student Conference, the Youth Parliament, the National Youth Council, the UNICEF Ambassadors and the Youth Counsellors of the Ombudsman fir Kanner a Jugendlecher. Adults listen to what young people report back within these organisations. Some young people, such as Greta Thunberg, have even created their own movements. To get involved and help other young people, you can join one of the existing groups or create an association to support a new cause!! Beware of ‘fake news’: lots of the information that you find online is fake.