What does it actually mean to have rights and what happens when young people start to understand them?

What does it actually mean to have rights and what happens when young people start to understand them?

On 15 June, 21 young people aged 13 to 19 gathered for “Rights Here, Right Now!,” an interactive workshop organised by Singapore Children's Society, built around the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Over the course of the day, they didn't just learn about their rights. They reflected on what those rights mean for their lives, and what kind of society they want to help build.

📘 But first, what's the UNCRC? The UNCRC is one of the most important international agreements in history. It is a global commitment to protecting and promoting the wellbeing of every child. Since it was adopted by the United Nations in November 1989, 196 countries have signed on, including Singapore. It remains the most widely ratified international agreement in the world.

Road to rights The workshop kicked off with a quick introduction to the UNCRC before diving into the issues that matter most to young people today, such as mental health, online safety, and more. To keep things lively, participants took part in a group "race,” competing to guess the correct statistics behind each question.

From there, the conversation turned to Singapore specifically: what's being done to address children's rights here, and what more could be done? The youth had plenty of ideas to tackle challenges in the mental health and online safety realms.

Making rights real The closing activity asked each participant to slow down and get personal, picking one issue they genuinely cared about and thinking through what it would take to make a real difference.

When the group came together to share, mental health dominated the conversation and three themes kept coming up:

• Young people need spaces where they feel genuinely comfortable talking about mental health, without fear of judgement.

• Peer mentorship matters. A closer age gap means a better chance of being truly understood.

• Mental health literacy needs to reach more people— not just young people, but the wider community around them.

Online safety was another major concern. Several participants felt that tech companies aren't doing enough, particularly around young people being exposed to violent or sexual content, including inappropriate advertisements that appear without warning.

Participants captured their thoughts on fruit-shaped cards, a small but intentional touch that made the reflection feel personal rather than performative. One participant wrote:"An issue I face that needs to be changed is the stigma on education routes and mental health. An actionable step that can take us there is providing more recognition for mental health and leaving a better image for education routes."

What they took away

The feedback after the workshop said it all. Participants left with a clearer sense of how the UNCRC connects to their everyday lives— and a stronger belief in their own voice.

Others felt strongly that their peers would benefit from experiencing the same thing. We agree— and we're already looking forward to the next Rights Here, Right Now! Workshop, and the conversations it will spark.