Un Convention on the Rights of the Child

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) In 1989 world leaders decided that children needed a convention that protected their rights and that people recognised that children had rights too. They felt that children needed special care and protection that adults do not The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. The Convention has set out these rights in 54 articles and two Optional Protocols.

It covers all the basic human rights and states that children everywhere have: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life. The four core principles of the Convention are non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child. Every right spelled out in the Convention is inherent to the human dignity and harmonious development of every child.

The Convention protects children’s rights by setting standards in health care; education; and legal, civil and social services. Article 29 is specifically aimed at children and their right to an education; it is based on equal opportunity and states that * Primary education is compulsory and free to all * Develop different forms of secondary education which should be free and with the offer of financial assistance if needed * Make higher education available for all Make educational information and guidance available for all children * Encourage regular attendance and reduce the number of drop outs. It also has guidance of how education should be delivered to the children * It should develop the child’s personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their full potential * It should develop the respect for the child’s parents, cultural identity, language, values and the national values of the country in which the child lives or originates from * It should repare the child for the responsibilities of life in a free society in an environment that offers peace, tolerance, equality of sexes and friendship among people * It should offer the chance to develop in a natural environment. childrenandyouthprogramme. info/pdfs/pdfs… /uncrc_summary_version. pdf 27. 10. 12 www. csie. org. uk/inclusion/child-rights. shtml 27. 10. 12 www. unicef. org/crc/ 27. 10. 12