1. Definition of a child
A child is any person under the age of 18.
2. No 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, if they are a boy or girl, if they have a disability, if 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.
3. Best interests of the child
When adults make decisions, they should think about how their
decisions will affect children. All adults should do what is best for
children. Governments should make sure children are protected and
looked after by their parents, or by other people when this is needed.Governments should make sure that people and places responsible for
looking after children are doing a good job.
4. Making rights real
Governments must do all they can to make sure that every child in their
countries can enjoy all the rights in this Convention.
5. Family guidance as children develop
Governments should let families and communities guide their children
so that, as they grow up, they learn to use their rights in the best way.
The more children grow, the less guidance they will need.
6. Life survival and development
Every child has the right to be alive. Governments must make sure that
children survive and develop in the best possible way.
7. Name and nationality
Children must be registered when they are born and given a name which
is 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.
8. Identity
Children have the right to their own identity – an official record of who
they are which includes their name, nationality and family relations. Noone should take this away from them, but if this happens, governments
must help children to quickly get their identity back.
9. Keeping families together
Children should not be separated from their parents unless they are not
being properly looked after – for example, if a parent hurts or does not
take care of a child. Children whose parents don’t live together should
stay in contact with both parents unless this might harm the child.
10. Contact with parents across countries
If a child lives in a different country than their parents, governments
must let the child and parents travel so that they can stay in contact and
be together.
11. Protection from kidnapping
Governments must stop children being taken out of the country when
this is against the law – for example, being kidnapped by someone or
held abroad by a parent when the other parent does not agree.
12. Respect for children’s views
Children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues that affect
them. Adults should listen and take children seriously.
13. Sharing thoughts freely
Children have the right to share freely with others what they learn, think
and feel, by talking, drawing, writing or in any other way unless it harms
other people.
14. Freedom of thought and religion
Children can choose their own thoughts, opinions and religion, but this
should not stop other people from enjoying their rights. Parents can
guide children so that as they grow up, they learn to properly use this
right.
15. Setting up or joining groups
Children can join or set up groups or organisations, and they can meet
with others, as long as this does not harm other people
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.
17. Access to information
Children have the right to get information from the Internet, radio,
television, newspapers, books and other sources. Adults should make
sure the information they are getting is not harmful. Governments should
encourage the media to share information from lots of different sources,
in languages that all children can understand.
18. Responsibility of parents
Parents are the main people responsible for bringing up a child. When
the child does not have any parents, another adult will have this
responsibility and they are called a “guardian”
. Parents and guardians
should always consider what is best for that child. Governments should
help them. Where a child has both parents, both of them should be
responsible for bringing up the child.
19. Protection from violence
Governments must protect children from violence, abuse and being
neglected by anyone who looks after them.
20. Children without families
Every child who cannot be looked after by their own family has the right
to be looked after properly by people who respect the child’s religion,
culture, language and other aspects of their life.
21. Children who are adopted
When children are adopted, the most important thing is to do what is
best for them. If a child cannot be properly looked after in their own
country – for example by living with another family – then they might be
adopted in another country.
22. Refugee children
Children who move from their home country to another country as
refugees (because it was not safe for them to stay there) should get help
and protection and have the same rights as children born in that country.
23. Children with disabilities
Every child with a disability should enjoy the best possible life in society.
Governments should remove all obstacles for children with disabilities to
become independent and to participate actively in the community.
24. Health, water, food, environment
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.
25. Review of a 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 this is still the best place for the
child to be.
26. Social and economic help
Governments should provide money or other support to help children
from poor families.
27. Food, clothing, a safe home
Children have the right to food, clothing and a safe place to live so they
can develop in the best possible way. The government should help
families and children who cannot afford this.
28. Access to education
Every child has the right to an education. Primary education should be
free. Secondary and higher education should be available to every child.
Children should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level
possible. Discipline in schools should respect children’s rights and never
use violence.
29. Aims of educationc help
Children’s education should help them fully develop their personalities,
talents and abilities. It should teach them to understand their own rights,
and to respect other people’s rights, cultures and differences. It should
help them to live peacefully and protect the environment.
30. Minority culture, language and religion
Children have the right to use their own language, culture and religion –
even if these are not shared by most people in the country where they
live.
28. Access to education
Every child has the right to an education. Primary education should be
free. Secondary and higher education should be available to every child.
Children should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level
possible. Discipline in schools should respect children’s rights and never
use violence.
29. Aims of educationc help
Children’s education should help them fully develop their personalities,
talents and abilities. It should teach them to understand their own rights,
and to respect other people’s rights, cultures and differences. It should
help them to live peacefully and protect the environment.
30. Minority culture, language and religion
Children have the right to use their own language, culture and religion –
even if these are not shared by most people in the country where they
live.
31. Rest, play, culture, arts
Every child has the right to rest, relax, play and to take part in cultural and
creative activities.
32. Protection from harmful work
Children have the right to be protected from doing work that is
dangerous or bad for their education, health or development. If children
work, they have the right to be safe and paid fairly.
33. Protection from harmful drugs
Governments must protect children from taking, making, carrying or
selling harmful drugs.
34. Protection from sexual abuse
The government should protect children from sexual exploitation (being
taken advantage of) and sexual abuse, including by people forcing
children to have sex for money, or making sexual pictures or films of
them.
35. Prevention of sale and trafficking
Governments must make sure that children are not kidnapped or sold, or
taken to other countries or places to be exploited (taken advantage of).
36. Protection from exploitation
Children have the right to be protected from all other kinds of
exploitation (being taken advantage of), even if these are not specifically
mentioned in this Convention.
37. Children in detention
Children who are 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
stay in contact with their family.
38. Protection in war
Children have the right to be protected during war. No child under 15 can
join the army or take part in war.
39. Recovery and reintegration
Children have the right to get help if they have been hurt, neglected,
treated badly or affected by war, so they can get back their health and
dignity.
40. Children who break the law
Children accused of breaking the law have the right to legal help and fair
treatment. There should be lots of solutions to help these children
become good members of their communities. Prison should only be the
last choice.
41. Best law for children applies
If the laws of a country protect children’s rights better than this
Convention, then those laws should be used.
42. Everyone must know children’s rights
Governments should actively tell children and adults about this
Convention so that everyone knows about children’s rights.
40. Children who break the law
Children accused of breaking the law have the right to legal help and fair
treatment. There should be lots of solutions to help these children
become good members of their communities. Prison should only be the
last choice.