Key youth rights issues

Of primary importance to youth rights advocates are historical perceptions of young people, which are informed by paternalism, adultism and ageism in general, as well as fears of children and youth.

Youth rights advocates believe those perceptions inform laws throughout society, including voting rights, age of candidacy, age of consent, Child labor laws, right-to-work laws, curfews, drinking age, driving age, emancipation of minors, voting age, minors and abortion, closed adoption, Corporal punishment, the age of majority, military conscription and the right to sign Contracts.

There are specific set of issues addressing the rights of youth in schools, including zero tolerance, gulag schools, In loco parentis, and student rights in general. Homeschooling, unschooling, and alternative schools are popular youth rights issues.

Strategies for gaining youth rights include developing youth programs and organizations that promote youth activism, youth participation, youth empowerment, youth voice, youth/adult partnerships and intergenerational equity between young people and adults.