Rights

On 8 May 2002, hundreds of children representing more than 100 countries marched on New York in the Global March for Children's Rights.
UNICEF/Stacy Sullivan

UNICEF works day-in day-out to protect and promote child rights. In 1989, the world's leaders officially recognised these rights by signing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This Convention underpins all of UNICEF's work, and we are the only organisation working for children that is recognised in the Convention.

In 2009, the CRC turned 20. Download our lobby pack for more information on the Convention and tips on how you can organise a meeting with your MP to make your voice heard.

By signing up to the Convention, national governments have committed themselves to protecting child rights around the world. UNICEF works with governments and communities to help them keep their promise to protect child rights.

Legally binding, the Convention recognises that the global situation of children is still critical due to inadequate social conditions, natural disasters, armed conflicts, exploitation, illiteracy, hunger and disability in many countries and UNICEF provides effective national and international action.

The Convention states that every child has the same rights:

• the right to a childhood (which includes protection from harm)
• the right to be educated (which includes all girls and boys completing primary school)
• the right to be healthy (which includes having clean water, nutritious food and medical care)
• the right to be treated fairly (which includes changing laws and practices that are unfair on children)
• the right to be heard (which includes considering children's views)

Find out more

• About your rights
• Download a copy of the Convention
• A peer education pack on The Convention On The Rights Of The Child

Progress on promises to children 

We've made significant progress in the 20 years since the world adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. For example, the number of children dying before their fifth birthday has fallen by more than 25 per cent.

In 2000, governments promised to achieve eight Millennium Development Goals by 2015. These include goals to end child poverty and hunger, to ensure that every girl and boy completes primary school, and to reduce child deaths.

But the rights of many millions of children are still being denied: children still die of diseases that could have been prevented. They still lack protection, education, food, shelter and clean water, and still face poverty and discrimination. Much remains to be done.

If the world keeps its promise to children, we know that millions more children will survive and thrive. We all need to recognise child rights and take responsibility to make sure they are met.

We need your help to protect child rights and put it right for children.

Fast facts

Here are some handy facts about the CRC which you could use to organize a quiz night in your area and fundraise for your chosen cause.

1. There are 54 articles in the Convention
2. The UK government signed the CRC in 1990 and made a commitment to realise children's rights in the UK.
3. Each government that has signed up to the CRC must report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva every five years to state its progress in making the Convention a reality in that country.
4. The Committee is a UN treaty monitoring body. It examines each country's report and also looks at evidence from other bodies such as the Children's Commissioner's office. The Committee then makes recommendations to the Government for ways it can move forward to improve child rights in its country. 
5. Last year the Committee made over 100 observations and recommendations to the UK Government and, whilst it praised the progress that had been made, it pointed out that there is still much to be done, particularly on issues such as child poverty. 
6. Article 12 states that children and young people should be listened to and their views taken into account. UNICEF UK runs the Rights Respecting School Award which puts the CRC at the heart of a school.
7. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is currently the most widely ratified international human rights treaty - all UN member states except for the United States and Somalia have ratified (signed up to) the Convention.
8. Articles 43 to 54 are about how adults and governments should work together to make sure all children get all their rights.