The full list of Rights for Children and Young People under 18 is set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989. It is the most accepted worldwide standard on Children’s Rights. Children’s rRights include the Right to Health, Education, Family Life, Play and Recreation, an adequate standard of living and to be protected from abuse and harm. Children’s Rights cover their Developmental & Age-Appropriate needs that change over time as a child grows up.
4 General Principles That Underpin All Children’s Rights
Non-Discrimination– All children have the same right to develop their potential in all situations & at all times. Ex. Every child should have equal access to education regardless of the child’s Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Nationality, Religion, Disability, Parentage, Sexual Orientation or another status.
The Best Interests of the Child– “A primary consideration” in all actions & decisions concerning a child and must be used to resolve conflicts between different rights. Ex. When making national budgetary decisions affecting children, the government must consider how cuts will impact the best interests of the child.
The Right to Survival and Development– Underscores the vital importance of ensuring access to basic services and to equality of opportunity for children to achieve their full development. Ex. Children with disability should have effective access to education & health care to achieve their full potential.
The Views of the Child– Meaning that voice of the child must be heard & respected in all matters concerning their rights. Ex. Govt should consult children before making decisions affecting them.
These rights are the bedrock for securing the additional rights in the UN Convention.
What Does The UN Convention On The Rights Of The Child Say?
Article 2– That all the rights guaranteed by the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child (UNCRC) must be available to all children without discrimination of any kind.
Article 3– That the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children.
Article 6– That every child has the Right to Life, Survival and Development.
Article 12- That the child’s view must be considered and taken into account in all matters affecting him or her.
Why Are Children’s Rights Important?
- Children are innocent, trusting and full of hope. Their childhood should be joyful and loving. Their lives should mature gradually, as they gain new experiences. But for many children, the reality of childhood is altogether different.
- Right through History, children have been abused & exploited. They suffer from hunger and homelessness, harmful work conditions, high infant mortality, deficient health care and limited opportunities for basic.
Education a child need not live such a life. - Childhood can and must be preserved. Children have the right to survive, develop, be protected and participate in decisions impacting their lives.
- Thus, the UN Charter of Child Rights is built on the principle and tries to ensure that “all children are born with fundamental freedoms and all human beings have some inherent rights”.
This rights of children can be fulfilled by some child helping NGO’s without being dependent on any authority. We at Pehchaan The Street School are helping the Children for their basic needs and also educating the children. By this, we are protecting the rights of children under the UN Convention on the Rights of Child especially right to life, right to survival, right to development and right to education.
About the Author: Mohammed Rafi Shaik is a Student of International Relations at Amity University, Noida currently working as an Intern at Pehchaan the Street School.