The Convention on the Rights of the Child

The convention applies to everyone under the age of 18, unless the law states that someone becomes an adult earlier.

All children have rights that must be respected, regardless of who they are, without discrimination.

When making decisions that affect children, you should always think about what is best for the child and protect their well-being.

Countries must make rules and laws to comply with the convention and ensure that children’s rights are respected.

Children should have the right to keep their identity and name without anyone doing anything illegal. If their identity is threatened, they should receive help.

All countries must ensure that every child has the right to live. They must do their best to ensure that children survive, grow up and develop.

Children have the right to a name, nationality and to know who their parents are as far as possible. Countries must ensure that these rights are respected, especially to prevent children from becoming stateless.

Countries must respect children’s right to keep their identity, including their nationality, name and family relationships.

Children must not be separated from their parents unless it is absolutely necessary in the best interests of the child. Children should have the opportunity to have contact with both parents if it does not harm them.

If a child or the parents want to be reunited with their family, the country should help in a kind and positive way. Children who have parents in different countries have the right to meet them and travel between countries if it does not harm an important matter such as safety or health.

Countries must counter unlawful abductions of children to and from abroad by promoting international agreements.

The state must ensure that children who can form their own views have the right to freely express their views on everything that affects them. The child’s age and maturity must be taken into account when considering their views.

Children have the right to say what they think and share information and thoughts in different ways, such as speaking, writing, or using art. But there are some restrictions:

• – It is not allowed to harm other people’s rights or reputation.
• – It is not allowed if it threatens the nation’s security, order, public health or public morals.

So, children have the right to express themselves, but it must be done with regard to certain rules.

States must respect the child’s right to think about things, have their own belief and practise their religion if they want. They must also respect the parents’ rights to guide the child in a way that supports their development as they exercise their rights.

Children have the right to form groups and hold peaceful meetings. But there are certain rules:

• – These rights may be restricted by law if it is necessary in a democratic society to protect national security, public safety, order, public health, morals or other people’s rights.

Children must not be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with their privacy, family life, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on their reputation or honour. Legislation must protect the child from such interference or attacks.

The media has an important role and must ensure that children have access to different kinds of information from different sources, both national and international. This information should promote children’s social, spiritual, moral, physical and mental well-being.

(a) The media should be encouraged to spread information that is good for children and in line with what is mentioned in Article 29.

(b) There should be cooperation between countries to produce, exchange and spread such information from different cultures and sources.

(c) The production and distribution of books for children should be encouraged.

(d) The media should take particular account of the language needs of children belonging to minority groups or indigenous peoples.

(e) There should be guidelines to protect children from information that may harm their welfare, taking into account what is said in Articles 13 and 18.

The state must do its best to ensure that parents take responsibility for raising and helping the child grow up. Parents have the main responsibility for this and must always consider what is best for the child.

States must take various measures to protect children from all forms of violence, harm or ill-treatment, including sexual abuse, when they are with their parents, guardians or other adults responsible for them.

A child who cannot live with their family, either temporarily or permanently, should receive special protection and support from the state. States must follow their own laws and ensure that the child is cared for in another way.

Countries that allow adoption must do what is best for the child and:

(a) Adoption must be approved by the competent authorities, which must use relevant and reliable information to decide whether it is best for the child to be adopted.

(b) If the child cannot find a foster family or adoptive family in their home country, international adoption may be considered as an option.

(c) International adoptions must have the same safeguards and standards as national adoptions.

(d) There must be no financial gain for anyone in international adoptions.

(e) Countries may enter into agreements or arrangements to ensure that children are placed in another country through competent authorities or organizations.

Children seeking protection as refugees, under international or national law, and arriving alone or with their parents or another person, must receive appropriate protection and assistance.

Countries must cooperate with the UN and other organizations to protect and help such children. They must also try to find the child’s parents or other family members to reunite them. If it is not possible to find the parents or family members, the child must receive the same protection as other children who cannot live with their family, under this convention.

Children with disabilities have the right to a dignified life that promotes their self-confidence and active participation in society.

Children have the right to the best possible health and access to healthcare and rehabilitation. No child may be prevented from accessing such care.

Children taken into care by authorities for care or treatment have the right to regular reviews of their situation and treatment.

Children have the right to social security, including social insurance, and to take the necessary steps under their laws to make this a reality. Benefits should be granted taking into account the child’s and guardian’s resources and other relevant factors.

Children have the right to a standard of living that promotes their physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development. Parents and guardians have the main responsibility for this, but the state must offer support programmes and material assistance when needed.

Children’s right to education. Primary school must be compulsory and free.

They must have access to information about education and careers. The state must ensure that children attend school regularly and reduce dropouts.

Children’s education must:

1. 1. Prepare them for responsible and peaceful life in society.

1. 2. Develop their full potential in personality and skills.

1. 3. Promote respect for human rights and different cultures.

Children from ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities or indigenous peoples have the right to participate in their cultural life, religion and language together with their members without discrimination.

Children have the right to rest, play, and leisure suitable for their age, as well as the freedom to take part in cultural and artistic activities.

Children have the right to protection against harmful work and economic exploitation. The state must introduce laws and measures that include a minimum age for work, regulation of working conditions for children and penalties for those who break these laws.

States must protect children from narcotics and drugs and prevent them from being exploited in the illegal drug trade.

States must protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse. They must prevent children from taking part in illegal sexual activity, being exploited for prostitution or other illegal sexual activities, and being used in pornographic material.

States must take all necessary measures, both nationally and in cooperation with other countries, to prevent children from being abducted, sold or trafficked, regardless of the purpose or the means used.

States must protect the child from all other forms of exploitation that may harm the child in any respect.

Children must be protected from torture and cruel treatment, not be imprisoned unlawfully or sentenced to the death penalty or life imprisonment. If a child is deprived of their liberty, they must be treated with respect and have the right to legal assistance and contact with their family.

States must follow international rules on how children should be protected in armed conflicts. They must not allow persons under 15 years of age to take a direct part in hostilities. Nor may they recruit anyone under 15 years of age into their armed forces. If they recruit persons between 15 and 18 years of age, they should try to recruit the oldest first. They must also make extra efforts to protect and assist children affected by an armed conflict.

Children must receive help if they have been victims of various difficult situations, such as neglect, exploitation, abuse, torture, cruel treatment or war. The help means that the child receives support to recover physically and mentally and to be socially reintegrated. This help must be provided in an environment that is good for the child’s health and self-esteem.

Children who are accused of crimes or convicted of crimes have the right to treatment that respects their dignity and fundamental freedoms and human rights.

If national laws give children greater opportunities to exercise their rights than what is set out in this convention, then they take precedence.

States that have acceded to the convention must spread information about its rules and principles so that both adults and children know about them.

This part is about how countries that have signed the convention should implement it. There is a UN monitoring committee that reviews countries’ reports. Other UN bodies and non-governmental organizations can also provide information to the UN.

This section covers the process for states to accede to the convention and when their commitments enter into force. It also establishes that reservations that go against the purpose of the convention are not allowed.