Every child has the same inalienable rights to a healthy start in life, an education, a happy childhood and the chance to develop into a productive adult. Unfortunately, millions of children do not get the opportunities they need to thrive. Every government, in all its departments and agencies, has a responsibility to uphold children’s rights. If government policies and actions don’t take children into account, they have a negative impact on the future of all citizens.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is a set of 54 articles, or parts, that outline the specific rights that all children are entitled to. These articles cover many different areas, including health, work and housing. These rights are important because they ensure that all governments and adults treat children fairly, with respect and dignity. They also make sure that children are protected from harm, and that they can seek legal and medical help if they have been abused.
Children have the right to freedom from violence, including sexual abuse and exploitation. They have the right to be safe at home and when they are out and about. They have the right to education that is relevant to their age and stage of development. They have the right to a healthy diet and to clean water and electricity. They have the right to play and to take part in cultural and creative activities. Children should have the right to family reunification (contact with their parents, even if they are separated) unless this would cause them harm.
Governments must protect children from people who kidnap or sell them, or who force them to have sex for money or to carry or sell drugs. They must protect them from all other kinds of exploitation (being taken advantage of) including forced labour, slavery and trafficking in human beings. They must guarantee that children can use their own language, culture and religion – even if these are not practised by most other people in the country where they live.
Children need to be able to express their opinions freely, and have them taken seriously. They have the right to have their physical, mental and emotional health checked regularly – especially if they are away from home for any reason – and to be helped when they are sick or injured. Governments have a responsibility to help families who cannot afford these expenses.
Governments should provide the best possible health care for all children. This includes access to free or affordable treatment, preventative health care and guidance for parents on how to look after their children’s health needs. They should protect all children against discrimination based on their sex, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, socio-economic status or disability. They should educate all children about their rights and the responsibilities that go with them. This is the most important of all the rights that children have. Children should not be punished for crimes they commit, but they should never be put in prison forever, and when they are in prison they should have a lawyer to represent them.