2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE ONE - The Commonwealth (§§ 1 — 5289) › Chapter 18B - Youth Bill of Rights (§§ 445 — 448) › § 446 - Bill of Rights—Public policy

The Bill of Rights of Youths of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is hereby created, with complete awareness and responsebility toward the achievement of the maximum development and well-being of youths between 13 and 29 years of age which, without prejudice to the laws in effect, shall be entitled to the rights set forth and conferred herein.
(a) Constitutional rights.— Youths shall hereby be entitled to the State’s guarantee of the rights set forth in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the applicable laws and regulations.
(b) Integral development.— Youths shall hereby be entitled to live in an appropriate environment in their parents’ home, and with families that satisfy their physical needs, with complete enjoyment of care, protection, and affection that guarantee their full physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development.
(c) Participation.— Youths shall hereby be entitled to participate actively in the social, economic, and political development of Puerto Rico, in compliance with the dispositions set forth by law and the constitutional ordinance of the country.
(d) Quality of life.— Youths shall hereby be entitled to be guaranteed that they can live their adolescence and youth as creative, vital and formative phases, receiving holistic education, and in healthy environments for the improvement of their quality of life.
(e) Freedom of speech.— Youths shall hereby be entitled to the free development of their personality, freedom of conscience, political diversity, to express their identity and manners of thinking and feeling, and to think and act according to the cultural and social values that guarantee the peace, security, and tranquility of Puerto Rican society.
(f) Public policy.— Youths shall be entitled to participate as social performers in government debates, developing the creation of public policy that is part of social reality and the development of the country, guaranteeing the right to free[dom] of speech as well as the democratic rights that shelter us.
(g) Democracy.— Youths shall be entitled to have society and the State guarantee for them the development and adoption of the democratic mechanisms for the participation of youth in the diverse instances of life in Puerto Rico.
(h) Equity.— Youths shall be entitled to have the legal system of Puerto Rico enforce compliance with their constitutional rights, guaranteeing intolerance toward age, race, color and gender discrimination.
(i) Recreation.— Youths shall be entitled to recreation in environments that are free from alcohol, drugs, pornography and other social problems that diminish the physical and mental health of human beings.
(j) Equality.— Youths shall be entitled to receive respect and equal treatment in any circumstance of daily life in Puerto Rico.
(k) Health.— Youths shall be entitled to receive health services according to their needs.
(l) Employment.— Youths shall be entitled to join diverse activities and productive branches, and to obtain access to fair and stable employment for their sustenance and personal and professional development, which shall be monitored by the State, to ensure they do not become the object of any discrimination for being young.
(m) Special conditions.— Youths that are under special conditions and situations, due to physical (motor, sensory, or physiological, or deprivation of their liberty due to compliance with dispositions) shall be entitled to receive equal treatment and to participate in opportunities that guarantee their integral development, as well as to receive services that improve their quality of life.
(n) Duties.— It is the responsibility of all youth to respect and comply with the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, respecting the rights of others, promoting solidarity and peaceful coexistence that allows for the development of all members of society.
(o) Responsibilities.— It is the responsibility of all youth to make adequate use of the natural, environmental and cultural resources to satisfy their current needs, but without jeopardizing the needs of future generations and their right to enjoy and live in a healthy and balanced environment.
History —July 26, 2003, No. 167, § 3.