Article 32 Article 41 If children have a right to be educated, then they have

The Government should protect If the laws

children from work that is dangerous, or might harm
their health or their education.
Article 33 The Government should provide
ways of protecting children from dangerous drugs.
Article 34
The Government should protect
children from sexual abuse.
Article 35
The Government should make sure
that children are not abducted or sold.
Article 36
Children should be protected from
any activities that could harm their development.
Article 37
Children who break the law
should not be treated
cruelly. They should not be
put in prison with adults and
should be able to keep in
contact with their families.
the obligation to learn as much as their capabilities allow
of a particular country and, where possible, share their knowledge and
protect children better experience with others.
than the articles of the
Convention, then those If all children have a right to a full life, then they should
laws should stay. also lend help so the needy, the disadvantaged, and the
victims of discrimination also enjoy this right.
Article 42
If children have a right to freedom of thought, conscience
The Government should make the Convention known
to parents and children. and religion, then they also have the obligation to respect
other’s thoughts or religious principles.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child has 54
articles in all. Articles 43–54 are about how adults and
governments should work together to make sure all
children get all their rights.
Whose responsibility?
Children’s rights are a special case because many of
the rights laid down in the Convention on the Rights of You can probably think of many more.
the Child have to be provided by adults or the state. Derived from a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities,
by an organisation called World Goodwill, composed of
However, the Convention also refers to the ex-heads of state.
responsibilities of children, in particular to respect the
rights of others, especially their parents (Article 29).

Here are some suggestions of the responsibilities

Article 38 that could accompany rights …
Governments should not allow children
under 15 to join the army. This leaflet contains a summary

Cartoons by Brick. 100 per cent recycled.

If every child, regardless of their sex, ethnic origin,
social status, language, age, nationality or religion has
these rights, then they also have a responsibility to
Article 39
Children respect each other in a humane way.
who have been neglected
or abused should receive If children have a right to
special help to restore their be protected from conflict, cruelty,
self-respect. exploitation and neglect, then they
also have a responsibility not to
bully or harm each other.
Article 40
Children who are accused of breaking the If children have a right to a clean environment, then
law should receive legal help. Prison sentences for children they also have a responsibility to do what they can to
should only be used for the most serious offences. look after their environment.
Check out UNICEF UK’s website for
children and young people: of the United Nations Convention
www.unicef.org.uk/youthvoice
on the Rights of the Child
Why not become a rights respecting
school? To find out more, go to A convention is an agreement between countries to obey the
www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa same law. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland agreed to obey (ratified) the Convention on the Rights
of the Child on 16 December, 1991.
For further free copies of this leaflet call
the UNICEF Education Order Line:
That means our Government now has to make sure that
0870 606 3377 Quote code: 32127 every child has all the rights in the Convention, except the
two they have ‘reservations’ about (Articles 10 and 37).
The UK Committee for UNICEF is a Company Limited by Guarantee,
registered in England and Wales, No. 3663181. Registered Charity No. 1072612.
 Article 1 Article 10 Article 17 Article 24
Everyone under 18 years of age has Families who live in different countries Children have the right Children have the right to good quality
all the rights in this Convention. should be allowed to move between those countries so to reliable information from the health care, to clean water,
that parents and children can stay in contact, or get back mass media. Television, radio, nutritious food, and a clean
Article 2 together as a family. and newspapers should provide environment, so that they will
The Convention applies to
everyone, whatever their information that children can stay healthy. Rich countries
Article 11 understand, and should not promote materials that should help poorer countries
race, religion, abilities; Governments should take steps to stop
whatever they think or children being taken out of their own country illegally. could harm children. achieve this.
say, whatever type of Article 18 Article 25
family they come from. Both parents share responsibility for Children who are looked after by their
Article 12
bringing up their children, and should always consider local authority, rather than their parents, should have
Article 3 Children have the right to what is best for each child. Governments should help their situation reviewed regularly.
All organisations concerned with children
say what they think parents by providing services to support them,
should work towards what is best for each child. Article 26
should happen, when especially if both parents work. The Government should provide extra
Article 4 adults are making decisions that affect them, and to have money for the children of families in need.
Governments should make these Article 19
their opinions taken into account. Governments should ensure that
rights available to children. Article 27 Children have a
children are properly cared for, and protect them from
Article 13 Children have the right to get and to violence, abuse and neglect by their parents, or right to a standard of living that is
Article 5
Governments should respect share information, as long as the information is not anyone else who looks after them. good enough to meet their
the rights and responsibilities of families to damaging to them or to others. physical and mental needs. The
direct and guide their children so that, as they Article 20 Government should help families
Children who cannot be looked after
grow, they learn to use their rights properly. Article 14 by their own family must be looked after who cannot afford to provide this.
Children have the
properly, by people who respect their Article 28
Article 6 right to think and believe what they All children and young people
All children have religion, culture and language.
want, and to practise their religion, have a right to a primary education, which should
the right to life. Governments as long as they are not stopping be free. Wealthy countries should help poorer
should ensure that children other people from enjoying their countries achieve this. Discipline in schools
survive and develop healthily. rights. Parents should guide their should respect children’s human dignity. Young
Article 7 children on these matters. Article 21 people should be encouraged to reach the
All children have the right to a legally When children are adopted the first highest level of education they are capable of.
registered name, and nationality. Also the right to know concern must be what is best for them. The same
Article 15
and, as far as possible, to be cared Children have rules should apply whether the children are adopted in Article 29
the right to meet together and the country where they were born, or if they are taken Education should develop each child’s
for by their parents.
to join groups and to live in another country. personality and talents to the full. It should encourage
Article 8 organisations, as long as this children to respect their parents, and their own and
Governments Article 22
does not stop other people other cultures.
should respect children’s right to a Children who come into a country as
name, a nationality and family ties. from enjoying their rights. refugees should have the same rights as children born Article 30
Children have a right to learn and use
in that country.
the language and customs of their families, whether these
Article 9 Article 16 are shared by the majority of people in the country or not.
Children should not be separated from Children have a right to privacy. The Article 23
their parents unless it is for their own good. For example, law should protect them from attacks against their way Children who have
if a parent is mistreating or neglecting a child. Children of life, their good name, their families and their homes. any kind of disability should have Article 31
special care and support, so that they All children have a right
whose parents have separated have the right to stay in
can lead full and independent lives. to relax and play, and to join in
contact with both parents, unless this might hurt the child.
a wide range of activities.