DA N C E

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The United Nations
Convention on the
Rights of the Child

W RLD
CHILDREN'S
DAY 20 November
2017
 Rights
for Guiding principles
children Children’s rights are human rights for children. The 1989 United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child is an international legal agreement (or ‘treaty’) that
recognizes specific rights for children.
‘Rights’ are entitlements every child should have. All children have the same rights.
These rights are listed in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and almost every
country has agreed to respect them in practice. All the rights are connected, and all
are equally important — they cannot be taken away from children.
Children have the right to:

Protection Provision
(e.g. from violence, (e.g. for education, health
exploitation and care and an adequate
harmful substances) standard of living)

Participation Specific protection and

(e.g. to be heard provisions
and taken seriously, when part of a vulnerable
and to join population, such as indigenous
organizations) children and children with
disabilities

The Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out these rights in 54 articles and in
a set of ‘Optional Protocols’ which list additional rights. The Convention is guided by
four general principles: non-discrimination (Article 2), the best interests of the child
(Article 3), the right to life, survival and development (Article 6), and the right to be
heard and taken seriously (Article 12). UNICEF is the only organization specifically
named in the Convention as a source of expert assistance and advice. According
to its mission statement, “UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of
the Child and strives to establish children’s rights as enduring ethical principles and
international standards of behaviour towards children”.

The articles in child-friendly language

Everyone under 18 years of age has all the rights in this Convention.
1

All children have all these rights, no matter who they are, where they live, what their parents do, what language they speak, what
2 their religion or culture is, whether they are a boy or girl, whether they have a disability, whether they are rich or poor. No child should
be treated unfairly on any basis.
All adults should do what is best for children. When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will
3 affect children.

Governments must use all available resources to implement all the rights in this Convention.
4

Governments should respect the rights and responsibilities of families to guide their children so that, as they grow up, they
5 learn to use their rights properly.
 W RLD
CHILDREN'S
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Every child has the right to life, survival and development.

6
W RLD CHILDREN'S DA
20 November
Children have the right to a name, and this should be officially recognized by the government. They have the 2017
right to a
7 nationality (to belong to a country).

Children have the right to an identity – an official record of who they are. No one should take this away from them.
8

Children should not be separated from their parents unless it is for their own good. Children whose parents have separated
9 should stay in contact with both parents unless this might harm the child.

If a child lives in a different country than their parents do, the child has the right to be together with them in the same place.
10

Governments should stop children being taken out of their own country illegally.
11

Children have the right to give their opinion, and for adults to listen and take it seriously.
12

Children have the right to find out things and share what they think with others, by talking, drawing, writing or in any other
13 way, unless it harms other people.

Children have the right to choose their own religion and beliefs. Their parents should guide them about what is right and
14 wrong, and what is best for them.

Children have the right to choose their own friends and join or set up groups, as long as it is not harmful to others.
15

Children have the right to privacy.

16

Children have the right to receive information that is important to their well-being, from radio, newspapers, books,
17 computers and other sources. Adults should make sure the information they are getting is not harmful, and help them find and
understand the information they need.
Children have the right to be raised by their parent(s) if possible. Governments should help parents by providing services to
18 support them, especially if both parents work.

Governments must make sure children are properly cared for and protect them from violence, abuse and neglect by anyone
19 who looks after them.

Children have the right to special care and help if they cannot live with their parents.
20

When children are adopted, the first concern must be what is best for them.
21

Children have the right to special protection and help if they are refugees, as well as to all the rights in this Convention.
22

Children have the right to special education and care if they have a disability, as well as to all the rights in this
23 Convention, so that they can live a full life.

Children have the right to the best health care possible, safe water to drink, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment,
24 and information to help them stay well.

Children who live in care or in other situations away from home, have the right to have these living arrangements looked at
25 regularly to see if they are the most appropriate.
 Governments should provide extra money for the children of poor families.
26

Children have the right to food, clothing and a safe place to live, and to have their basic physical and mental needs
27 met. Governments should help families and children who cannot afford this.

Children have the right to an education. Discipline in schools should respect children’s dignity. Primary education should be
28 free. Children should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level possible.

Children’s education should help them use and develop their talents and abilities. It should also help them learn to
29 respect other people’s rights, live peacefully and protect the environment.

Children have the right to practice their own culture, language and religion — even if these are not shared by the
30 majority of people in the country where they live.

Children have the right to play, rest and relax and to take part in cultural and artistic activities.
31

Children have the right to protection from work that harms them, and is bad for their health and education. If they work,
32 they have the right to be safe and paid fairly.

Children have the right to protection from harmful drugs and from the drug trade.
33

Children have the right to be free from sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.
34

Governments must make sure that children are not kidnapped, sold or trafficked.
35

Children have the right to protection from any kind of exploitation (being taken advantage of).
36

Children who break the law should not be killed, tortured, treated cruelly, put in prison forever, or put in prison with adults.
37 Prison should be the last choice and only for the shortest possible time. Children in prison should have legal help and be able to
stay in contact with their family.
Children have the right to protection and freedom from war. Children cannot be forced to go into the army or take part in
38 war.

Children have the right to help if they have been hurt, neglected or badly treated so they can get back their health and
39 dignity.

Children have the right to legal help and fair treatment in a justice system that respects their rights.
40

If the laws of a country provide better protection of children’s rights than the articles in this Convention, those laws should apply.
41

Children have the right to know their rights. Adults should know about these rights and help children learn about them.
42

These articles explain how governments and international organizations like UNICEF will work to make sure all children get all
43 their rights.
to
54

For further • UNICEF and the Convention on

reading, the Rights of the Child at

<www.unicef.org/crc>
please
refer to: