PRESENTATION OUTLINE
UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF A CHILD
Definition Of A Child
The Convention defines a 'child' as a person below the age of 18, unless the laws of a particular country set the legal age for adulthood younger. The Committee on the Rights of the Child, the monitoring body for the Convention, has encouraged States to review the age of majority if it is set below 18 and to increase the level of protection for all children under 18.
Non-Discrimination
The Convention applies to all children, whatever their race, religion or abilities; whatever they think or say, whatever type of family they come from. It doesn’t matter where children live, what language they speak, what their parents do, whether they are boys or girls, what their culture is, whether they have a disability or whether they are rich or poor. No child should be treated unfairly on any basis.
Survival And Development
Children have the right to live. Governments should ensure that children survive and develop health.
Registration, Name, Nationality And Care
All children have the right to have a legally registered name, officially recognized by the government. Children have the right to have a nationality. Children also have the right to learn, and, as far as possible, to be cared for by their parents.
Preservation Of Identity
Children have the right to have an identity - an official record of who they are. Government should respect children's right to a name, a nationality and family ties.
Family Personification
Families whose members live in different countries should be allowed to move between those countries so that parents and children can stay in contact, or get back together as a family.
Kidnapping
Governments should take steps to stop children from being taken out of their own country or home illegally. This is particularly concerned with parental abductions. The Convention's Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography has a provision that concerns abduction for economic gains.
Respect For The Views Of The Child
When adults are making decisions that affect the children, children have the right to say what they think should happen and have their opinions taken into account.
Rights Of Privacy
Children have the right to have privacy. The law should protect them against attacks against their way of life, their good name, their families and their homes.
Children With Disabilities
Children who have any kinds of disability have the right to have special care and support, as well as all the rights in Convention, so that they can live full and independent lives.
