Article 1: Definition of child
A child is anyone under the age of 18.
Article 2: Non-discrimination
All children have all these rights, no matter who they are, where they live, what language they speak, what their religion is, what they think, what they look like, whether they are boys or girls, whether they have a disability, whether they are rich or poor, and no matter who their parents or families are or what their parents or families believe or do. No child should be treated unfairly for any reason.
Article 3: Best interests of the child
When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect the children. All adults should do what’s best for the children. Governments must ensure that children are protected and cared for by their parents, or by other people when necessary. Governments must ensure that the people and places responsible for childcare are doing a good job.
Article 4: Making rights a reality
Governments must do everything they can to ensure that every child in their countries can enjoy all the rights of this Convention.
Article 5: Family orientation as children develop
Governments must allow families and communities to guide their children so that, as they grow up, they learn to use their rights in the best way. The older children get, the less guidance they need.
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Article 6: Survival and development of life
Every child has the right to be alive. Governments must ensure that children survive and develop in the best possible way.
Article 7: Name and nationality
Children must be registered when they are born and given a name officially recognized by the government. Children must have a nationality (belong to a country). Whenever possible, children should know their parents and be looked after by them.
Article 8: Identity
Children have the right to their own identity – an official record of who they are, including their name, nationality and family relationships. No one should take that away from them, but if they do, governments should help the children to quickly recover their identity.
Article 9: Keeping families together
Children should not be separated from their parents unless they are not being properly cared for – for example, if one of the parents hurts or doesn’t look after the child. Children whose parents don’t live together should keep in touch with both parents, unless this could harm the child.
Article 10: Contact with parents in other countries
If a child lives in a different country from their parents, governments should allow the child and parents to travel so that they can keep in touch and stay together.
Article 11: Protection against kidnapping
Governments must prevent children from being taken abroad when this is against the law – for example, by being kidnapped by someone or kept abroad by one parent when the other doesn’t agree.
Article 12: Respect for children’s opinions
Children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues that affect them. Adults should listen and take children seriously.
Article 13: Sharing thoughts freely
Children have the right to share freely with others what they learn, think and feel, by speaking, drawing, writing or in any other way, unless it harms others.
Article 14: Freedom of thought and religion
Children can choose their own thoughts, opinions and religion, but this should not prevent other people from enjoying their rights. Parents can guide children so that, as they grow up, they learn to use this right properly.
Article 15: Creating or joining groups
Children can join or create groups or organizations and can get together with others, as long as this doesn’t harm other people.
Article 16: Protection of privacy
Every child has the right to privacy. The law must protect children’s privacy, family, home, communications and reputation (or good name) from any attack.
Article 17: Access to information
Children have the right to obtain information from the Internet, radio, television, newspapers, books and other sources. Adults must ensure that the information they are getting is not harmful. Governments should encourage the media to share information from many different sources, in languages that all children can understand.
Article 18: Parental responsibility
Parents are the main people responsible for raising a child. When a child has no parents, another adult will take on this responsibility and is called a “guardian”. Parents and guardians should always consider what is best for that child. Governments must help them. When a child has both parents, both should be responsible for raising the child.
Article 19: Protection against violence
Governments must protect children from violence, abuse and neglect by anyone who cares for them.
Article 20: Children without families
Every child who cannot be cared for by his or her own family has the right to be cared for properly by people who respect the child’s religion, culture, language and other aspects of life.
Article 21: Adopted children
When children are adopted, the most important thing is to do what is best for them. If a child cannot be adequately cared for in their own country – for example, by living with another family – then they can be adopted in another country.
Article 22: Refugee children
Children who move from their country of origin to another country as refugees (because it wasn’t safe for them to stay there) should receive help and protection and have the same rights as children born in that country.
Article 23: Children with disabilities
Every disabled child should enjoy the best possible life in society. Governments must remove all obstacles for children with disabilities to become independent and actively participate in the community.
Article 24: Health, water, food and the environment
Children have the right to the best possible health care, clean water to drink, healthy food and a clean and safe environment to live in. All adults and children should have information on how to stay safe and healthy.
Article 25: Review of the child’s placement
Every child who has been placed somewhere away from home – for their care, protection or health – should have their situation checked regularly to see if everything is going well and if it is still the best place for them to be.
Article 26: Social and economic aid
Governments should provide money or other support to help children from poor families.
Article 27: Food, clothing and a safe home
Children have the right to food, clothing and a safe place to live so that they can develop in the best possible way. The government should help families and children who can’t afford it.
Article 28: Access to education
Every child has the right to an education. Primary education must be free. Secondary and higher education should be available to all children. Children should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level possible. Discipline in schools must respect children’s rights and never use violence.
Article 29: Aims of education
Children’s education should help them to fully develop their personalities, talents and abilities. It must teach them to understand their own rights and to respect the rights, cultures and differences of other people. You must help them to live in peace and protect the environment.
Article 30: Culture, Language and Religion of Minorities
Children have the right to use their own language, culture and religion – even if these are not shared by the majority of people in the country where they live.
Article 31: Rest, Play, Culture and the Arts
Every child has the right to rest, relax, play and take part in cultural and creative activities.
Article 32: Protection against Harmful Work
Children have the right to be protected from doing work that is dangerous or harmful to their education, health or development. If children work, they have the right to be safe and to be paid fairly.
Article 33: Protection Against Harmful Drugs
Governments must protect children from taking, producing, transporting or selling harmful drugs.
Article 34: Protection Against Sexual Abuse
The government must protect children from sexual exploitation (being taken advantage of) and sexual abuse, including by people who force children to have sex in exchange for money, or by producing sexual images or films of them.
Article 35: Prevention of Sale and Trafficking
Governments must ensure that children are not kidnapped or sold, or taken to other countries or places to be exploited (taken advantage of).
Article 36: Protection against Exploitation
Children have the right to be protected from all other types of exploitation (being taken advantage of), even if these are not specifically mentioned in this Convention.
Article 37: Deprivation of liberty
Children accused of breaking the law should not be killed, tortured, treated cruelly, put in prison forever, or put in prison with adults. Prison should always be the last choice and only for the shortest possible time. Children in prison should have legal help and be able to keep in touch with their families.
Article 38: Protection in war
Children have the right to be protected during war. No child under the age of 15 can join the army or take part in war.
Article 39: Recovery and Reintegration
Children have the right to receive help if they have been injured, neglected, mistreated or affected by war, so that they can recover their health and dignity.
Article 40: Children who break the law
Children accused of breaking the law have the right to legal assistance and fair treatment. There must be several solutions to help these children become good members of their communities. Prison should be the last choice.
Article 41: The Best Laws for Children Must Be Enforced
If a country’s laws protect children’s rights better than this Convention, then those laws should be used.
Article 42: Everyone Should Know Children’s Rights
Governments must actively inform children and adults about this Convention so that everyone knows about children’s rights.
Article 43-54: How the Convention Works :
These articles explain how governments, the United Nations – including the Committee on the Rights of the Child and UNICEF – and other organizations work to ensure that all children enjoy all their rights.
Source: The Convention on the Rights of the Child: The children’s version
To read the full Convention on the Rights of the Child, click here.
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