Convention on the Rights of the Child

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is an international human rights convention that focuses in particular on the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children. It builds on the Charter of Nations which recognized the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaiming that childhood is entitled to special care and assistance, and a number of other international instruments aimed at protecting the well-being of children. “Child” is defined as every person below the age of 18 years unless under domestic legislation, majority is attained earlier. The CRC is founded on four guiding principles, namely, the principle of equality and non-discrimination; the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child in matters that affect him or her, according to his or her age and maturity. Basic minimum standards and rights of children are established in the convention, including the right to life; the right to a name, to acquire a nationality and, as far as possible, to know and be cared for by his or her parents; the right to preserve his or her identity; the right to freedom of expression and access to information; the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; the right to freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assembly; the right to privacy; the right to be protected from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse; the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health; the right to an adequate standard of living; the right to education, including compulsory primary education; the right to rest and leisure; the right to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous, harmful, or to interfere with the child’s education; and the right to be protected from torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including capital punishment and life imprisonment without possibility of release.