Article 4: Governments must protect their name, nationality, and family

UN Convention on the and respect my rights. ties.

Rights of the Child Governments must do all they can to Article 9: I have a right to live with
make sure every child can enjoy their my family if they can keep me safe.
Article 1: Everyone under 18 has rights.
Children should not be separated
rights.
from their parents unless it is in their
All children and young people under best interests.
Article 5: My family should help me
18 have all the rights in the
know and use my own rights.
Convention.
Families have the responsibility to Article 10: I have the right to see my
help children learn to use their rights parents if they live in another country.
Article 2: All children have these as they grow.
If a child’s parents live in different
rights no matter what their
countries, the child has the right to
differences are.
stay in contact with both parents.
Article 6: I have the right to live and
The Convention applies to every
grow as a person.
child without discrimination,
regardless of race, religion, or Every child has the right to life, Article 11: I have the right not to be
abilities. survival, and development. taken out of the country illegally.
Governments must take steps to stop
children being taken out of their own
Article 3: Adults must do what’s best Article 7: I have a right to a name
country illegally.
for me. and to belong to a country.
The best interests of the child must Every child has the right to be
be a top priority in all decisions and registered at birth, to have a name, Article 12: I have the right to be
actions that affect children. and to acquire a nationality. listened to and taken seriously.
Children have the right to give their
opinions freely on issues that affect
Article 8: I have a right to an identity.
them. Adults should listen and take
Governments must respect and children seriously.
protect a child’s identity, including
Article 13: I have the right to find out Article 16: I have the right to keep Article 19: I have the right to be
and share information. some things private. protected from being hurt or badly
treated.
Children have the right to get and Children have the right to privacy.
share information, as long as the The law should protect them from Governments must do all they can to
information is not damaging to them attacks against their way of life, their ensure that children are protected
or others. good name, their families, and their from all forms of violence, abuse,
homes. neglect, and mistreatment.

Article 14: I have the right to have

my own thoughts and beliefs and to Article 17: I have the right to get Article 20: I have the right to special
choose my religion. information in lots of ways, so long as care and help if I cannot live with my
it’s safe. parents.
Children have the right to think and
believe what they want and to Children have the right to reliable Children who cannot be looked after
practice their religion, as long as they information from the media. by their own family have the right to
are not stopping other people from Governments must help protect special care and must be looked after
enjoying their rights. Parents should children from materials that could properly, by people who respect their
guide children on these matters. harm them. ethnic group, religion, culture, and
language.

Article 15: I have the right to meet Article 18: I have the right to be
with friends and join groups. brought up by my parents if possible. Article 21: I have the right to care
and protection if I am adopted or in
Children have the right to meet with Both parents share responsibility for
foster care.
other children and young people and bringing up their child and should
to join groups and organisations, as always consider what is best for the Children have the right to care and
long as this does not stop other child. Governments must help protection if they are adopted or in
people from enjoying their rights parents by providing services to foster care. The first concern must be
support them. what is best for them.
.
Article 22: I have the right to special Children who are looked after by their education should be available to
protection and help if I am a refugee. local authority rather than their every child.
parents have the right to have their
Children who come into a country as Article 29: I have the right to an
living arrangements checked
refugees should have the same education which develops my
regularly to ensure they are the most
rights as children born in that country. personality, respect for others’ rights,
suitable.
and the environment.
Education should develop each
Article 23: I have the right to special
Article 26: I have the right to help if I child’s personality and talents to the
education and care if I have a
am poor or in need. full. It should encourage children to
disability.
respect their parents, their cultures,
Governments should provide extra
Children who have any kind of and other cultures.
money for the children of families in
disability should receive special care
need.
and support so that they can live a
full and independent life. Article 30: I have the right to speak
my own language and follow my
Article 27: I have the right to have a
family’s way of life.
proper house, food, and clothing.
Article 24: I have the right to the best
Children have the right to learn and
health possible and to medical care Children have the right to a standard
use the language and customs of
and information. of living that is good enough to meet
their families, whether these are
their physical and mental needs.
Children have the right to the best shared by the majority of people in
Governments should help families
health care possible, safe water to the country or not.
and guardians who cannot afford to
drink, nutritious food, a clean and
provide this.
safe environment, and information to
help them stay healthy. Article 31: I have the right to relax
and play.
Article 28: I have the right to an
education. Every child has the right to relax,
Article 25: I have the right to have
play, and join in a wide range of
my living arrangements checked Every child has the right to an
cultural and artistic activities.
regularly if I have to be looked after education. Primary education should
away from home. be free. Secondary and higher
Article 32: I have the right to Article 36: I have the right to special help to recover their health,
protection from work that is bad for protection from any other kind of dignity, and self-respect.
my health or education. exploitation.
Governments must protect children Children have the right to protection
from work that is dangerous or might from any other kind of exploitation
harm their health or education. (being taken advantage of). Article 40: I have the right to legal
help and fair treatment in the justice
system.
Article 33: I have the right to be Article 37: I have the right not to be
Children accused of breaking the law
protected from dangerous drugs. punished in a cruel or hurtful way.
have the right to legal help and fair
Governments must protect children No child should be tortured, treatment. They should be treated in
from the use of illegal drugs and from sentenced to the death penalty, or a way that respects their rights and
being involved in their production or suffer other cruel or degrading takes into account their age.
distribution. treatment or punishment. Children
should not be put in prison with
adults. Article 41: If the laws in my country
Article 34: I have the right to be free protect me better than the UNCRC,
from sexual abuse. then those laws should stay.
Article 38: I have the right to
Governments must protect children If the laws of a country provide better
protection in times of war.
from all forms of sexual abuse and protection of children’s rights than the
exploitation. Governments must do everything articles in this Convention, those
they can to protect and care for laws should apply.
children affected by war and armed
Article 35: No one is allowed to conflicts.
kidnap or sell me. Article 42: I have the right to know
my rights.
Governments must ensure that
Article 39: I have the right to help if I
children are not abducted or sold. Governments must make the
have been hurt, neglected, or badly
Convention known to children and
treated.
adults.
Children who have been neglected,
abused, or exploited should receive
Article 43 7. If a member dies, resigns, or 3. After the initial report, States don’t
cannot serve, the nominating State need to repeat basic information in
1. A Committee on the Rights of the
will appoint a replacement for the future reports.
Child will be set up to review the
remaining term.
progress made by States in fulfilling 4. The Committee can ask for more
their obligations under the 8. The Committee will make its own information if needed.
Convention. rules.
5. The Committee reports to the UN
2. The Committee will consist of ten 9. Officers will be elected for two General Assembly every two years.
experts, chosen for their expertise years.
6. States should make their reports
and moral standing, and will reflect
10. Meetings will usually be at UN public.
geographical diversity and major
Headquarters, held annually.
legal systems.
11. The UN Secretary-General will
3. Committee members will be Article 45
provide staff and resources for the
elected by States through secret
Committee. To support the implementation of the
ballot from a list of nominees. Each
Convention and promote
State can nominate one national. 12. Committee members will receive
cooperation:
payment from UN resources, as
4. The first election will take place
approved by the General Assembly. (a) UN agencies like UNICEF can
within six months of the Convention’s
participate in reviewing relevant parts
entry into force, with elections every
of the Convention. The Committee
two years after. The UN Secretary-
Article 44 can invite them for expert advice or
General will invite nominations in
reports.
advance. 1. States must submit reports to the
Committee on the actions they’ve (b) The Committee can share State
5. The election will happen during a
taken to implement the Convention: reports with relevant UN agencies for
meeting of States, and winners need
technical advice or help.
the most votes and a majority. (a) Within two years of the
Convention entering into force; (c) The Committee can ask the UN
6. Members serve four-year terms
Secretary-General to study specific
and can be re-elected. Five members (b) Every five years afterward.
child rights issues.
will serve only two years after the first
2. Reports should explain any
election, chosen by drawing lots. (d) The Committee can make
difficulties in meeting the obligations
recommendations based on reports
of the Convention.
from States and share them with as they don't contradict the purpose
States and the General Assembly. of the Convention. Reservations can
be withdrawn.

Article 46: The Convention is open

for signature by all States. Article 52: States can withdraw from
the Convention by notifying the
Article 47: States must ratify the
Secretary-General, and it becomes
Convention by depositing their
effective one year later.
instruments with the UN Secretary-
General.
Article 53: The UN Secretary-
General is the official keeper
Article 48: The Convention is open
(depositary) of the Convention.
for States to join (accede) even after
it enters into force.
Article 54: The official texts of the
Article 49: The Convention comes Convention are equally valid in
into effect 30 days after 20 States Arabic, Chinese, English, French,
ratify it. For new States, it enters into Russian, and Spanish.
force 30 days after their ratification.

Article 50: States can propose

amendments. If enough States
support a conference to discuss the
amendment, the Secretary-General
will convene it. Amendments must be
approved by two-thirds of the States.

Article 51: States can make

reservations when ratifying, as long