The Convention On The Rights Of The Child

The Convention on the rights of the child The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out what governments and individuals should do to promote and protect the indivisible human rights of all children Unanimously adopted by the General Assembly on 20 November 1989, it has since been ratified by all the world’s governments, except Somaila and the United States of America. Ratification means that governments commit themselves to ensuring that children can grow up in safe and supportive conditions, with access to high quality education and health care, and a good standard of living. It means governments agree to protect children from discrimination, sexual and commercial exploitation and violence, and to take particular care of orphans and young refugees. It is also an acknowledgement that children have the right: • • • • • •

To express opinions, especially about decisions that affect them: To freedom of thought; expression, conscience and religion; To a private life and the right to play; To form their own clubs and organizations; To have access to information – particularly from the state and the media; To make ideas and information known themselves.

The convention provides a benchmark against which the efforts of each government to improve the lives of the children can be measured. Every five years, governments must report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Committee reviews their progress, meets with government representatives and listeners to the views of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), before making recommendations about how each country could do better.