"Article 14 of the Convention attributes to children the fundamental civil right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. As is the case for other autonomy and participation rights in the Convention, namely Articles 12 through 17, it represents a significant evolution for the recognition of children as an autonomous subject of law (Brems, 2005, p. 1).
It recognises the rights and duties of the parents, but in addition, it attributes them a ‘guiding role.’ Article 14(2) echoes Article 5 and reiterates the paradigm shift of the Convention, based on the respect for the responsibilities, rights, and duties of parents,Footnote 1 to provide, in a consistent manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, ‘appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the child’s rights as recognized in the CRC’ (Brems, 2005)."