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The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry has launched a new 'Rights from the Start' initiative designed to shine a spotlight on children and young people's rights. At the
centre of this initiative, is a fact sheet outlining these rights according to The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Carrying endorsements from the British Dental
Association (BDA) and the NSPCC, the fact sheet, which can also be used as a poster, was co-developed with support from the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) Child Friendly Cities &
Communities programme. The aim is to bring clarity for professional colleagues in dentistry, and beyond - to anyone who works with children and young people - so that they can feel confident
in their understanding of the rights that they must uphold for the youngest in our society. Jenny Harris, President of BSPD and Consultant in Community Paediatric Dentistry, Sheffield
Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who conceived the Rights from the Start initiative said: 'It's crucial that inequalities in children's oral health at a population
level are tackled and tackled fast. Change is needed soon. Children desperately need far-reaching solutions to uphold their right to the best dental care possible. We are, as yet, a long way
off that. 'But there are also things we can do in our day-to-day clinical practice to respect and uphold individual children's rights. That's what I have focused on in my
article in the _British Dental Journal_ - things like providing information children can understand, listening to their views and supporting them to make decisions.' Dr Fiona Gilchrist,
Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Dentistry at The University of Sheffield, who chaired the organising committee for BSPD's 2022 children's rights-themed conference in Sheffield said:
'We have a duty to advocate for children to have equitable access to dental services - including specialist care if required and treatment under general anaesthesia when that is the
best option. It is a child's right, but at the moment it is little more than a postcode lottery whether these things are available locally.' Eddie Crouch, Chair, BDA said: 'A
healthy start in life is a fundamental right for all young people, and oral health is too often the missing piece. From the outset, the British Dental Association (BDA) have supported
BSPD's important work on Rights from the Start. This profession has a key role to play, to come together to support and uphold these rights.' RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and
permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE BSPD launches 'Rights from the Start' initiative. _BDJ Student_ (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41406-023-0971-5 Download citation
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