What are the Rights of Children?
A comprehensive guide to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is a landmark international treaty. It delineates the civil, economic, political, and cultural rights of children across the globe.
The UNCRC came into force on September 2, 1990, and as of July 2022, it has been signed by 196 countries. It recognizes children as individuals with their own rights, rather than passive recipients of adult care.
Fundamental Principles
| Article | Principle | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Non-Discrimination | Every child has the right to the same protection and opportunities, regardless of race, religion, or ability. |
| 3 | Best Interests | The childs welfare must be a primary consideration in all decisions affecting them. |
| 6 | Life & Survival | Governments must ensure the survival and development of the child to the maximum extent possible. |
| 12 | Respect for Views | Children have the right to express their views freely, and these should be given weight according to their maturity. |
The Complete 54 Articles
The UNCRC contains 54 articles in total. Articles 142 detail individual rights, while Articles 4354 discuss how governments and adults must collaborate to ensure these rights are upheld.
- Definition of the child
- Non-discrimination
- Best interests of the child
- Implementation of the Convention
- Parental guidance / evolving capacities
- Life, survival and development
- Birth registration, name, nationality
- Protection of identity
- Separation from parents
- Family reunification
- Abduction and non-return
- Respect for views of the child
- Freedom of expression
- Freedom of thought and religion
- Freedom of association
- Right to privacy
- Access to media information
- Parental responsibilities
- Protection from violence
- Children unable to live with family
- Adoption
- Refugee children
- Children with a disability
- Health and health services
- Review of treatment in care
- Social security
- Adequate standard of living
- Right to education
- Goals of education
- Minority or Indigenous groups
- Leisure, play and culture
- Child labour
- Drug abuse
- Sexual exploitation
- Trafficking and abduction
- Other forms of exploitation
- Detention and inhumane treatment
- War and armed conflicts
- Recovery from trauma
- Juvenile justice
- Respect for higher standards
- Knowledge of rights