Every child has specific rights – enforceable under international law – to help protect them from threats, exclusion and discrimination. These are outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been adopted by countries worldwide. It and two Optional Protocols – one on the sale of children, and another on armed conflict – set out a comprehensive legal framework to guarantee that children’s well-being is protected in all situations, whether they are being raised by their parents or someone else, and wherever they live.

The right to a dignified life means that each child must be given food, water and housing to allow them to stay healthy and grow. This is also important for their social development and participation in society. Around the world, every five seconds a child dies from hunger. The right to education gives each child the opportunity to learn and enjoy a social life, as well as allowing them to build their own futures. It is a key driver of poverty alleviation, economic growth and sustainable development.

Children have the right to be involved in decisions that affect them, at a level that matches their age and maturity, and to have their opinions heard and taken seriously. They must be able to express themselves freely and without fear of repercussions, and they should have access to information so that they can make informed choices.

All children have the right to family life. This includes a right to be cared for by their parents or other people responsible for them, and to have a relationship with them that is mutually supportive. It also means the right to a safe environment where children can feel at home, and where they are treated with respect, kindness and dignity.

They have the right to freedom of speech and expression, including the freedom to receive or impart information and ideas without interference, and the right to freedom of artistic creation. This is crucial to children’s learning and creativity, and it should be supported at school. They also have the right to freedom of association, including the right to form and join associations of their choice, for purposes such as recreation and culture.

All children have the right to a private and family life, and their parents and caregivers should be encouraged and assisted to do so in accordance with national conditions. This should be done in a way that respects the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the child, as detailed in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This includes the right to privacy and the freedom of religion. It also entails the duty to give each child an identity and a name, and to know their relatives. The right to identity is vital for a person’s mental and physical health. It must be respected, even if it is difficult for some children to fulfil this right. Children must be provided with adequate medical and social services, so that they can reclaim their identities when they have been violated or lost.