Here are some basic rights you have and that you should know about:

Right to health
It’s your right to be as healthy as you can and have good health care, including sexual and reproductive health services.

Right to privacy
If you share something private with a health worker or a teacher, they need to respect your secret by keeping it that way. If your secret is about someone who harmed you or sexually abused you, the adult you confide in will need to tell others so they can get you help.

Right to be protected from harmful practices
Some practices, like child marriage, are not ideal for your future. You have the right to choose when and with whom you want to get married once you are an adult.

Right to be a part of making decisions about your life and health When adults are making decisions about your life, you have the right to voice your feelings and opinions, and the adults need to listen to you. As you get older, you gain the right to make decisions for yourself.

Right to learn about sexual and reproductive health
You can learn about how your body works, sexuality, pregnancy and contraception and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.

Right to ask
If you need protection, you have the right to ask adults, community leaders and the government to help you.

Right to control your own body
Your body is your body. If someone touches you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, even if it’s someone you trust and love, you have the right to say no. It’s important to tell another person you trust if this happens. You are also the person to decide if any changes can be made to your body – like tattoos, circumcision, and piercings.

Right to marry a person of your choice
Forced and arranged marriages don’t need to happen. You have the right to choose who you want to marry when you are legally old enough to make such a decision.

Right to equality
No matter who you are, you have the right to be treated with respect and the same as all others. That includes gender quality – you are still equal to everyone else whether you’re a boy or a girl,

Even as an adolescent, you have very clear rights. Now that you know what they are, stand up for them and demand that others respect your rights! At the same time, remember that you need to respect others rights too. The law is supposed to protect your rights. If somebody is taking away your rights, you can tell somebody you trust or get help from the police, legal organisations – like the Women Lawyers Association, child rights groups, LGBTI rights groups or the human rights commission, child rights advocates. Together you can make a plan to make it stop.

Are your rights being ignored? Find out below.