We all have rights
1:Definition of a child
Any person under the age of 18 is considered a child.
2:No discrimination
All children have these rights, regardless of who they are, where they live, what language they speak, what religion they practise, what they think, what they look like, whether they are a boy or a girl, whether they have a disability, whether they are wealthy or poor, and regardless of who their parents or families are or what they believe or do. For any cause, no child should be treated unfairly.
3:Best interests of the child
Adults should consider how their decisions may effect children while making decisions. All adults should act in the best interests of children. Governments should ensure that children are protected and cared for by their parents or others when necessary. Governments should ensure that the people and locations in charge of children’s care are doing a decent job.
4:Making rights real
Governments must do everything possible to ensure that every child in their country has access to all of the rights outlined in this Convention.
5:Family guidance as children develop
Governments should allow families and communities to guide their children so that they learn to exercise their rights effectively when they grow older. As youngsters get older, they will require less supervision.
6:Life survival and development
A child’s right to life is unalienable. Governments must ensure that children are able to survive and develop to their full potential.
7:Name and nationality
When a child is born, he or she must be registered and given a name that is recognised by the government. Children are required to have a nationality (belong to a country). Children should know and be cared for by their parents whenever feasible.
8:Identity
Children have the right to their own identity, which is defined as an official record of who they are, including their name, nationality, and family ties. No one should be able to take this away from them, but if it does, governments must assist children in regaining their identities as swiftly as possible.
9:Keeping families together
Children should not be taken away from their parents unless they are not being properly cared for, such as when a parent injures or neglects a child.
Unless it would be harmful to the child, children whose parents do not live together should maintain contact with both parents.
10:Contact with parents across countries
If a child resides in a different nation than his or her parents, governments must allow the child and parents to travel together so that they can stay in touch.
11:Protection from kidnapping
Governments must prevent children from being transferred out of the country when doing so is illegal, such as when a child is abducted or detained abroad by one parent while the other parent refuses.
12:Respect for children’s views
Children have the right to openly express themselves on problems that concern them. Adults should pay attention to youngsters and take them seriously.
13:Sharing thoughts freely
Children have the right to freely share what they learn, think, and feel with others, whether through talking, painting, writing, or any other means, unless it causes harm to others.
14:Freedom of thought and religion
Children have the right to their own views, opinions, and religion, but this should not prevent others from exercising theirs. Parents can teach their children how to use this right correctly as they get older.
15:Setting up or joining groups
Children are free to join or form groups or organisations, as well as meet with others, as long as they do not do harm to others.
16:Protection of privacy
A child’s right to privacy is unalienable. Children’s privacy, family, home, communications, and reputation (or good name) must all be protected under the law.
17:Access to information
Children have the right to get knowledge from a variety of sources, including the Internet, radio, television, newspapers, books, and other media.
Adults must ensure that the information they receive is not damaging. Governments should encourage the media to convey information from a variety of sources in languages that are understandable to all youngsters.
18:Responsibility of parents
The primary persons in charge of raising a child are the parents. When a child has no parents, another adult is entrusted with this task and is referred to as a “guardian.”
Parents and guardians must always think about what is best for their children. Governments should provide assistance to them. When a child has both parents, both parents should be responsible for the child’s upbringing.
19:Protection from violence
Governments must ensure that children are protected from violence, abuse, and neglect by those who care for them.
20:Children without families
Every kid who is unable to care for themselves has the right to be properly cared for by persons who respect their religion, culture, language, and other parts of their lives.
21:Children who are adopted
When it comes to adopting children, the most important thing to remember is to do what is best for them. If a child cannot be properly cared for in their native nation – for example, by living with another family – they may be adopted.
22:Refugee children
Children who flee their native country as refugees (because it is no longer safe for them to stay) should get assistance and protection, as well as the same rights as children born in that nation.
23:Children with disabilities
Children have the right to the best health care possible, clean water to drink, healthy food and a clean and safe environment to live in. All adults and children should have information about how to stay safe and healthy.
24:Health, water, food, environment
Children have the right to the greatest available health care, clean drinking water, nutritious food, and a clean and safe environment in which to grow up. Everyone, including adults and children, should know how to keep safe and healthy.
25:Review of a child’s placement
Every child who has been placed somewhere other than their home for reasons of care, protection, or health should have their situation examined on a regular basis to determine whether everything is okay and if this is still the best location for the child to be.
26:Social and economic help
Governments should provide financial or other assistance to children from low-income families.
27:Food, clothing, a safe home
Children have the right to food, clothing, and a safe place to live in order to reach their full potential. Families and children who cannot afford it should be assisted by the government.
28:Access to education
A child’s right to an education is unalienable. Primary education should be provided free of charge. Every youngster should have access to secondary and higher education. Children should be encouraged to achieve their full potential in school. School discipline should be respectful.
29:Aims of education
Education should assist children in completely developing their personalities, talents, and capacities. It should teach children to recognize and respect their own rights, as well as the rights, cultures, and differences of others. It should assist people in living in peace and protecting the environment.
30:Minority culture, language and religion
Children have the right to express themselves in their own language, culture, and religion, even if these are not shared by the majority of people in their home nation.
31:Rest, play, culture, arts
Every child is entitled to rest, relaxation, play, and participation in cultural and artistic activities.
32:Protection from harmful work
Children have the right to be shielded from work that is hazardous or detrimental to their education, health, or development. Children who work have the right to be safe and adequately compensated.
33:Protection from harmful drugs
Every child is entitled to rest, relaxation, play, and participation in cultural and artistic activities.
34:Protection from sexual abuse
The government should safeguard children against sexual exploitation and abuse, such as when someone force minors to have sex for money or make pornographic images or recordings of them.
35:Prevention of sale and trafficking
Governments must ensure that children are not abducted, sold, or transported to other nations or locations to be exploited (taken advantage of).
36:Protection from exploitation
Even if they are not particularly addressed in this Convention, children have the right to be safeguarded from all other forms of exploitation (taking advantage of).
37:Children in detention
Children accused of breaking the law should not be killed, tortured, or treated cruelly, nor should they be imprisoned indefinitely or with adults.
Prison should only be used as a last resort and for the lowest amount of time possible. Children in prison should have access to legal counsel and be permitted to communicate with their families.
38:Protection in war
During times of war, children have the right to be safeguarded. No youngster under the age of 15 is allowed to join the army or fight in a conflict.
39:Recovery and reintegration
Children have the right to receive assistance if they have been injured, neglected, or mistreated, or if they have been damaged by war, so that they can regain their health and dignity.
40:Children who break the law
Children who have been accused of breaching the law have the right to legal representation and to be treated fairly. There should be numerous options available to assist these children in becoming productive members of their communities. Prison should only be used as a last resort.
41:Best law for children applies
Governments should actively tell children and adults about this Convention so that everyone knows about children’s rights.
42:Everyone must know children’s rights
Governments should aggressively inform both children and adults about the Convention so that everyone is aware of the rights of children.
43 to 54:How the Convention works
These articles describe how governments, the United Nations – particularly UNICEF and the Committee on the Rights of the Child – and other organizations work to ensure that all children have access to all of their rights.