You should expect be treated a certain way when you visit any agency for services or take part in youth programs. As a newcomer youth:
- You have the right to great services! Tell a worker at the agency if services or programs are not meeting your needs.
- You have the right to confidential services – whatever you tell your counsellor or settlement worker should not be told to anyone else, not even your parents.
- Over 12 years old? You have the right to see a counsellor without your parents - and you don’t need their permission.
- Speak out! If you have a bad experience, tell someone. Each agency has a complaint process that you can access – ask a worker how.
- You have the right to keep things to yourself. You don’t have to talk about something if it makes you uncomfortable.
- You have a right to be involved! This means you have the right to participate, learn about issues, and create positive change in your communities.
- Speak your own language! You have the right to get services in your own language.
- You are an individual. You have the right to be treated in a way that is sensitive to your own unique situation.
- You have the right to feel safe. This means agencies and services should be accessible, and free of violence and discrimination. It also means you should be treated professionally and respectfully, no matter where you are from, your race, gender, religion, language, sexual identity, ability, or class.
- Settlement services are there to help YOU - so use them!
The Newcomer Youth Bill of Rights is loosely based on the Newcomer Youth Settlement Guide for Settlement Workers. This guide was produced by the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants.