The 54 articles of the un crc
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The document summarizes the 54 articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), highlighting key principles such as the best interests of the child, non-discrimination, and the rights to survival, development, protection, and participation. It outlines comprehensive rights for children, including the right to education, health care, and protection from violence and exploitation, while emphasizing the roles and responsibilities of governments and families in safeguarding these rights. The author, Florence Flores-Pasos, advocates for upholding children's rights globally.
The 54 articles of the un crc
- 1. Florence Flores-Pasos, RSW, MSW College of Social Work and Community Development University of the Philippines Diliman, Q.C., PHILIPPINES The 54 Articles of the UNCRC Reference: UNICEF, Summary of Childrenâs Rights
- 2. THE AUTHOR: A HUMAN RIGHTS AND CHILD RIGHTS ADVOCATE AND SOCIAL WORKER Prof. Florence Flores-Pasos, RSW, MSW College of Social Work and Community Development University of the Philippines, Diliman, Q.C. Social Worker, Project Officer, Program Manager Educational Research and Development Assistance (ERDA) Foundation 1990-2016 (26 years)
- 4. 4 General Principles Article 2,3,4,6: Four (4) general Principles ⢠The best interests of the child ⢠Non-discrimination ⢠Development ⢠Views of the child
- 6. Article 1 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. States are encouraged to review the age of majority if it is set below 18 and to increase the level of protection for all children under 18.
- 7. Article 2 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 doesnât 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.
- 8. Article 3 Best Interests of the Child The best interests of children must be the primary concern in making decisions that may affect them. All adults should do what is best for children. When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children. This particularly applies to budget, policy and law makers.
- 9. Article 4 Protection Rights When countries ratify the Convention, they agree to review their laws relating to children. This involves assessing their social services, legal, health and educational systems, as well as levels of funding for these services. Government must help families protect childrenâs rights and create an environment where they can grow and reach their potential. In some instances, this may involve changing existing laws or creating new ones. Governments have a responsibility to take all available measures to make sure childrenâs rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.
- 10. Article 5 Parental Guidance Governments should respect the rights and responsibilities of families to direct and guide their children so that, as they grow, they learn to use their rights properly. Helping children to understand their rights does not mean pushing them to make choices with consequences that they are too young to handle. The Convention does not take responsibility for children away from their parents and give more authority to governments. It does place on governments the responsibility to protect and assist families in fulfilling their essential role as nurturers of children. Article 5 encourages parents to deal with rights issues "in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child".
- 11. Article 6 Survival and Development Children have the right to live. Governments should ensure that children survive and develop healthily.
- 12. Article 7 Registration, Name, Nationality, Care, to know Parents All children have the right to a legally registered name, officially recognised by the government. Children have the right to a nationality (to belong to a country). Children also have the right to know and, as far as possible, to be cared for by their parents.
- 13. Article 8 Preservation of Identity You have the right to know who you are and nobody should change that unless it is really important
- 14. Article 9 Separation from Parents Children have the right to live with their parent(s), unless it is bad for them. Children whose parents do not live together have the right to stay in contact with both parents, unless this might hurt the child.
- 15. Article 10 Family Reunification 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.
- 16. Article 11 Kidnapping Governments should take steps to stop children being taken out of their own country illegally. This article is particularly concerned with parental abductions. The Conventionâs Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography has a provision that concerns abduction for financial gain.
- 17. Article 12 Respect for the Views of the Child When adults are making decisions that affect children, children have the right to say what they think should happen and have their opinions taken into account.
- 18. Article 13 Freedom of Expression Children have the right to get and share information, as long as the information is not damaging to them or others. In exercising the right to freedom of expression, children have the responsibility to also respect the rights, freedoms and reputations of others. The freedom of expression includes the right to share information in any way they choose, including by talking, drawing or writing.
- 19. Article 14 Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion Parents should help guide their children in these matters. At the same time, the Convention recognizes that as children mature and are able to form their own views, some may question certain religious practices or cultural traditions. The Convention supports children's right to examine their beliefs, but it also states that their right to express their beliefs implies respect for the rights and freedoms of others. Children have the right to think and believe what they want and to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights.
- 20. Article 15 Freedom of Association Children have the right to meet together and to join groups and organisations, as long as it does not stop other people from enjoying their rights. In exercising their rights, children have the responsibility to respect the rights, freedoms and reputations of others.
- 21. Article 16 Right to Privacy Children have the right to keep some things private The law should protect children from attacks against their way of life, their good name, their families and their homes.
- 22. Article 17 Access to Information and Mass Media Governments should encourage mass media â radio, television, newspapers and Internet content sources â to provide information that children can understand and to not promote materials that could harm children. Mass media should particularly be encouraged to supply information in languages that minority and indigenous children can understand. Children should also have access to childrenâs books. Children have the right to get information that is important to their health and well-being.
- 23. Article 18 Parental Responsibilities and State Assistance Governments must respect the responsibility of parents for providing appropriate guidance to their children â the Convention does not take responsibility for children away from their parents and give more authority to governments. It places a responsibility on governments to provide support services to parents, especially if both parents work outside the home. Both parents share responsibility for bringing up their children, and should always consider what is best for each child.
- 24. Article 19 Protection from All Forms of Violence Children have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, physically or mentally. Governments should ensure that children are properly cared for and protect them from violence, abuse and neglect by their parents, or anyone else who looks after
- 25. Article 20 Children deprived of Family Environment Children who cannot be looked after by their own family have a right to special care and must be looked after properly, by people who respect their ethnic group, religion, culture and language.
- 26. Article 21 Adoption Where children are adopted it must be because that is the best for them. Children have the right to care and protection if they are adopted or in foster care. The first concern must be what is best for them. The same rules should apply whether they are adopted in the country where they were born, or if they are taken to live in another country.
- 27. Article 22 Refugee Children Children have the right to special protection and help if they are refugees (if they have been forced to leave their home and live in another country), as well as all the rights in this Convention.
- 28. Article 23 Children with Disabilities Children who have any kind of disability have the right to special care and support, as well as all the rights in the Convention, so that they can live full and independent lives.
- 29. Article 24 Health and Health Services Children have the right to good quality health care â the best health care possible â to safe drinking water, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment, and information to help them stay healthy. Rich countries should help poorer countries achieve this.
- 30. Article 25 Review of Treatment in Care Children who are looked after by their local authorities, rather than their parents, have the right to have these living arrangements looked at regularly to see if they are the most appropriate. Their care and treatment should always be based on âthe best interests of the childâ. (see Guiding Principles, Article 3)
- 31. Article 26 Social Security Children â either through their guardians or directly â have the right to help from the government if they are poor or in need.
- 32. Article 27 Adequate Standard of Living Children have the right to a standard of living that is good enough to meet their physical and mental needs. Governments should help families and guardians who cannot afford to provide this, particularly with regard to food, clothing and housing.
- 33. Article 28 Right to Education Wealthy countries should help poorer countries achieve this right. Discipline in schools should respect childrenâs dignity. For children to benefit from education, schools must be run in an orderly way â without the use of violence. Any form of school discipline should take into account the child's human dignity. Therefore, governments must ensure that school administrators review their discipline policies and eliminate any discipline practices involving physical or mental violence, abuse or neglect. The Convention places a high value on education. Young people should be encouraged to reach the highest level of education of which they are capable. All children have the right to a primary education, which should be free.
- 34. Article 29 Goals of Education Childrenâs education should develop each childâs personality, talents and abilities to the fullest. It should encourage children to respect others, human rights and their own and other cultures. It should also help them learn to live peacefully, protect the environment and respect other people. Children have a particular responsibility to respect the rights their parents, and education should aim to develop respect for the values and culture of their parents.
- 35. Article 30 Children of Minorities/ Indigenous groups Minority or indigenous children have the right to learn about and practice their own culture, language and religion. The right to practice oneâs own culture, language and religion applies to everyone; the Convention here highlights this right in instances where the practices are not shared by the majority of people in the country
- 36. Article 31 Leisure, Play and Culture Children have the right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities.
- 37. Article 32 Child Labour The government should protect children from work that is dangerous or might harm their health or their education
- 38. Article 32 Child Labour While the Convention protects children from harmful and exploitative work, there is nothing in it that prohibits parents from expecting their children to help out at home in ways that are safe and appropriate to their age. If children help out in a family farm or business, the tasks they do be safe and suited to their level of development and comply with national labour laws. Children's work should not jeopardize any of their other rights, including the right to education, or the right to relaxation and play.
- 39. Article 33 Drug Abuse Governments should use all means possible to protect children from the use of harmful drugs and from being used in the drug trade.
- 40. Article 34 Sexual Exploitation Governments should protect children from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse. This provision in the Convention is augmented by the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
- 41. Article 35 Abduction, Sale and Trafficking The government should take all measures possible to make sure that children are not abducted, sold or trafficked. This provision in the Convention is augmented by the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
- 42. Article 36 Other Forms of Exploitation Children should be protected from any activity that takes advantage of them or could harm their welfare and development.
- 43. Article 37 Detention and Punishment Children who break the law: ⢠should not be treated cruelly ⢠should not be put in prison with adults ⢠should be able to keep in contact with their families ⢠should not be sentenced to death or life imprisonment without possibility of release. No one is allowed to punish children in a cruel or harmful way.
- 44. Article 38 War and Armed Conflicts Governments must do everything they can to protect and care for children affected by war. The Conventionâs Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict further develops this right, raising the age for direct participation in armed conflict to 18 and establishing a ban on compulsory recruitment for children under 18.
- 45. Article 39 Rehabilitation of Child Victims Children who have been neglected, abused or exploited should receive special help to physically and psychologically recover and reintegrate into society. Particular attention should be paid to restoring the health, self-respect and dignity of the child.
- 46. Article 40 Juvenile Justice Children who are accused of breaking the law have the right to legal help and fair treatment in a justice system that respects their rights. Governments are required to set a minimum age below which children cannot be held criminally responsible and to provide minimum guarantees for the fairness and quick resolution of judicial or alternative proceedings.
- 47. Article 41 Respect for Superior National Standards If the laws of a country provide better protection of childrenâs rights than the articles in this Convention, those laws should apply.
- 48. Article 42 Knowledge of Rights Governments should make the Convention known to adults and children. Adults should help children learn about their rights, too. (See also article 4.)
- 49. Article 43-54 Implementation Measures These articles discuss how governments and international organizations like UNICEF should work to ensure children are protected in their rights.
- 50. What now???
- 52. Let us uphold childrenâs rights, no matter what. Thank you.