Human rights and children’s rights

• Did you know that everyone has rights?
• Did you know that until you turn 18, you have special rights?
• Human rights and children’s rights refer to the things we need in order to live safely, be healthy and reach our full potential. Rights are not simply wishes or things we want; their purpose is to ensure that we treat one another fairly and appropriately.
  Why do children need special rights? Children need special rights because they require specific protection that adults do not need. Children depend on the people around them throughout their childhood. During this period, they need special protection to help them develop and become independent adults. They must, in turn, respect the rights of those who are more vulnerable than themselves.

What are children’s rights?

The United Nations Convention, adopted in 1990, sets out 42 children’s rights. These include the following:

• the right to a name and nationality;
• the right to education;
• the right to a family;
• the right to protection;
• the right to healthcare;
• the right to information;
• the right to participation;
• the right to nutrition;
• the right to leisure.

Equal treatment for all children

Equal treatment of children is of particular importance. Discrimination is defined as any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, social class, beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, chronic non-communicable disease, HIV status, membership of a disadvantaged group, as well as any other criterion which has the purpose or effect of restricting, denying recognition of, or preventing the use or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms or of rights recognised by law, in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres or in any other areas of public life.

Useful links:

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – children’s version