Article 5 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child acknowledges that parental rights, duties and responsibilities to provide appropriate direction and guidance to their child diminish in light of the child’s evolving capacities of autonomous thought and action, of discernment and decision-making. Parents or, where applicable, the guardian are to direct and guide the child in exercising the rights afforded by the Convention. States are obliged to respect this role of parents and guardians and to provide support in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.