Since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was written, a number of other human rights treaties have been developed to recognize the basic rights of all persons.
As well as the Universal Rights, children (under age 18) also have specific rights, recognized in the 1989 convention on the Rights of the Child. The provision and protection of children’s Convention rights is the primary responsibility of governments at all levels.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out these rights in 54 articles and in a set of Optional Protocols.
Click here to see the full Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Specifically, children have the rights to:
1. protection (e.g., from abuse, exploitation, and harmful substances)
2. provision (e.g., for education, health care, and an adequate standard of living)
3. participation (e.g., listening to children’s views and respecting their evolving capacities)
4. specific protections and provisions for vulnerable populations such as Aboriginal children and children with disabilities
Canada ratified the Convention in December, 1991. Since then, a number of laws, policies, and practices affecting children have advanced children’s rights. In fact, the Convention has inspired a process of social change in all regions of the world by reframing children’s basic needs as rights that must be protected and provided for, rather than as optional, charitable acts.
The Convention makes clear the idea that a basic quality of life should be the right of all children, rather than a privilege enjoyed by a few. Because Canada’s governments, schools, and other institutions have changed a number of laws and policies to uphold children’s rights, children are protected from military deployment to armed conflicts, children who are in government care have advocates to help when there is no other adult that can, and more students are engaged and succeeding in schools where their views are sought and respected.
(adapted from
www.UNICEF.ca)
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