WUNRN
THE GIRL CHILD
UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child:
Status of Ratification:
_______________________________________________________________
20th ANNIVERSARY - UN CONVENTION ON
THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE
CHILD
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Convention on the Rights of the Child?
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international treaty that
recognizes the human rights of children, defined as persons up to the age of 18
years. The Convention establishes in international law that States Parties
must ensure that all children—without discrimination in any form—benefit from
special protection measures and assistance; have access to services such as
education and health care; can develop their personalities, abilities and
talents to the fullest potential; grow up in an environment of happiness, love
and understanding; and are informed about and participate in, achieving their
rights in an accessible and active manner.
How was it decided what should go into the Convention on the Rights of
the Child?
The standards in the Convention on the Rights of the Child were negotiated
by governments, non-governmental organizations, human rights advocates,
lawyers, health specialists, social workers, educators, child development
experts and religious leaders from all over the world, over a 10-year period.
The result is a consensus document that takes into account the importance of
tradition and cultural values for the protection and harmonious development of
the child. It reflects the principal legal systems of the world and
acknowledges the specific needs of developing countries.
How does the Convention on the Rights of the Child protect children's
rights?
It constitutes a common reference against which progress in meeting human
rights standards for children can be assessed and results compared. Having
agreed to meet the standards in the Convention, governments are obliged to
bring their legislation, policy and practice into accordance with the standards
in the Convention; to transform the standards into reality for all children;
and to abstain from any action that may preclude the enjoyment of those rights
or violate them. Governments are required to report periodically to a committee
of independent experts on their progress to achieve all the rights.
How does the international community monitor and support progress on the
implementation of the Convention?
The Committee on the Rights of the Child, an internationally elected body of
independent experts that sits in
What is the new vision of the child in the Convention?
The Convention provides a universal set of standards to be adhered to by
all countries. It reflects a new vision of the child. Children are neither the
property of their parents nor are they helpless objects of charity. They are
human beings and are the subject of their own rights. The Convention offers a
vision of the child as an individual and a member of a family and a
community, with rights and responsibilities appropriate to his or her age and
stage of development. Recognizing children's rights in this way firmly sets a
focus on the whole child. Previously seen as negotiable, the child's needs have
become legally binding rights. No longer the passive recipient of benefits, the
child has become the subject or holder of rights.
How is the Convention special?
The Convention:
How does the Convention on the Rights of the Child define a child?
The Convention defines a "child" as a person below the age of 18,
unless the relevant laws recognize an earlier age of majority. In some cases,
States are obliged to be consistent in defining benchmark ages—such as the age
for admission into employment and completion of compulsory education; but in
other cases the Convention is unequivocal in setting an upper limit—such as
prohibiting life imprisonment or capital punishment for those under 18 years of
age.
How many countries have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the
Child?
More countries have ratified the Convention than any other human rights
treaty in history—192 countries had become State Parties to the Convention as
of November 2005.
Who has not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and why?
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely and rapidly
ratified human rights treaty in history. Only two countries,
As in many other nations, the
How does UNICEF use the Convention on the Rights of the Child?
The Secretary-General of the United Nations has called for the
mainstreaming of human rights in all areas of UN operations—for example, the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in its
mandate for refugee children, or the International Labour Organization (ILO) in
its commitment to eliminate child labour. In the case of UNICEF, the Convention
has become more than just a reference, but a systematic guide to the work of
the organization. As expressed in its Mission Statement, UNICEF is mandated to
"advocate for the protection of children's rights" and it
"strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and
international standards of behaviour towards children." UNICEF promotes
the principles and provisions of the Convention and the mainstreaming of
children's rights in a systematic manner, in its advocacy, programming,
monitoring and evaluation activities.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child provides UNICEF with guidance as to the areas to be assessed and addressed, and it is a tool against which UNICEF measures the progress achieved in those areas. Integrating a human rights approach in all UNICEF's work is an ongoing learning process that includes broadening the framework for UNICEF's development agenda. In addition to maintaining a focus on child survival and development, UNICEF must consider the situation of all children, better analyse the economic and social environment, develop partnerships to strengthen the response (including the participation of children themselves), support interventions on the basis of non-discrimination and act in the best interests of the child.
What steps do the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Committee
on the Rights of the Child encourage governments to undertake?
Through its reviews of country reports, the Committee urges all levels of
government to use the Convention as a guide in policy-making and implementation
to:
In addition to support of country programmes, how does UNICEF assist
governments in promoting children's rights?
UNICEF's work involves advocacy, cooperation and technical assistance.
What are some of the areas in which the Convention on the Rights of
the Child has been most effective?
The Convention has inspired a process of national implementation and social
change in all regions of the world, including:
These examples are merely a sampling and are not exhaustive.
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