Know Your Rights

WHAT ARE CHILDREN'S RIGHTS?

Human rights are the rights and freedoms that every person holds because they are human. Human rights and freedoms belong to everyone, everywhere and cannot be permanently taken away.

WHERE DO CHILDREN'S RIGHTS COME FROM?

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out 40 specific rights and freedoms for all children. These rights and freedoms make sure every child is listened to and taken seriously, able to learn and develop to their full potential, and able to grow up in a safe environment, protected from violence, abuse and harm.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty - an agreement where countries promise to protect and respect the rights and freedoms of children living within their boundaries.

When a government agrees to be a 'State Party' to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, they become responsible for making sure children's rights are respected and protected. Except for one country in the world (United States of America), every country has agreed to be a State Party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This means that almost everyone in the world recognizes and protects children's rights!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD WATCH THIS VIDEO

Developed by the Centre for Children's Rights Queen's University Belfast

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS IN THE UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD?

CLICK HERE TO READ THE CHILD-FRIENDLY CONVENTION

Developed by UNICEF and supported by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and Child Rights Connect