Respect

The Children's Rights Service will give you information and support about your rights when being looked after or living away from home.

But remember, other people have rights, and these should also be respected. Whether you are:

• living at home
• in foster care
• in a residential school
• a children's home
• a secure unit

it is important to learn how to get along with others and to live together. This is not always easy and there can be disagreements as well as friendships.

Whatever your differences, or abilities, it is important to respect other people's rights, and certain ways of behaving are not acceptable. For example, it is not acceptable for people to be violent to one another, to insult one another, or to steal or damage property. These rules apply to adults, children and young people alike.

You should respect other people's rights.

If you do, then your rights are more likely to be respected.

Everyone has to live by rules and it is important that you know that if you break the rules you can expect some kind of sanction (or penalty). Ask your carers what sanctions may be used. Remember, these sanctions should be fair and should not be humiliating. All sanctions should have the aims of helping you to understand your responsibilities.