Human rights is one of the most debated issues around. But is there a difference between children's rights and adult's rights? Do we in fact need a children's rights commissioner to monitor our rights and, more importantly, to stop them from being abused?
On December 16 1991, the UK accepted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
This lays out all the rights we have come to expect for children, such as consultation on decision-making that affects us and the outlawing of race and sex discrimination. There is a mounting pressure for Britain to adopt a national watchdog to make sure these rights are not abused.
Recently, the select committee on human rights decided that the only way to really understand the issue was to hear from children directly. They approached children's pressure groups Right Here Right now and the London Children's Rights Commissioner project for help.
Six children, aged 10 to 16, were invited to Parliament to give evidence to the committee about the campaigns they had been mounting.
They believe a full Children's Rights Commissioner would improve the status and lives of all children in England - not just those in care who already have a watchdog - by fully implementing the UN Convention.
Similar campaigns are continuing in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
So why should the government listen to children? Well, according to James Sweeney, 16, from Right here Right Now: "Children are the future. We're going to be the ones voting in five to 10 years time. If they appoint a commissioner they might favour the present government."
It also matters to children how they are listened to. As Joel Semakula, 12, from East London says: "If the government are building a play scheme, ask the young people where they think it should be, not what colour the walls should be."
One big issue is the media coverage given to young people.
The campaigners speak with disgust when they talk of misrepresentation. Andy Butler, 15, claims: "there is a perceived violence in the culture of young people" in the media.
He adds: "If somebody is mugged, it is a youth. When people read the papers or see the news, they think, "Oh it's a youth that has done all these bad things, so all youths must be like that."
The government says they are listening, but whether they decide to have a Children's Rights Commissioner or incorporate children's rights into a general Equalities Commission remains to be seen.
About the team
This story was produced by Zak Garner-Purkis, 14, and Onome Edgeworth, 13. It was published in the Daily Mirror as part of a special Children's Express pull-out on the UK Youth Parliament.
