Having kids is a huge decision and one that should never be taken lightly. There are many reasons why people choose to have children and there are just as many who are adamant they do not want them. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, there is no denying that children can bring huge amounts of joy into people’s lives. They provide love like nothing else and there is nothing quite like seeing your child reach their milestones. But despite all the positives, there are also some negatives to having children that are worth considering before making such a big commitment.

The rights of children have been given a new status in international law by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This shift has helped to redefine children’s needs and aspirations as fundamental rights that should be protected, fulfilled and advanced rather than seen as something for parents to fulfill in their own way. It also helps to recognise the evolving capacities of children, which allows their views and concerns to be seriously considered.

Every child has a right to life and this includes the right to health care, food, water, shelter, education, play, parental affection, privacy and a safe environment. Children also have a right to be protected from all forms of abuse and neglect, including corporal punishment, sexual exploitation, trafficking in persons, harmful work, emotional and psychological abuse, degrading treatment in prison and war. Children are entitled to a fair hearing and the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of their liberty.

Children have a right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and their own language and culture. They also have the right to free expression as long as this does not affect other people’s rights. They have the right to a good education and the opportunity to achieve their full potential. They have the right to a safe and healthy environment that is responsive to their age and stage of development, which includes the provision of facilities such as toilets, hand washing sinks and nutritious meals in schools.

They have a right to be involved in decisions that affect them and to be listened to, depending on their evolving capacities. This is to help them understand the issues and their possible outcomes, so they can make better-informed choices.

They have the right to protection against all forms of violence, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse; harmful work; trafficking in persons; and discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, religion or nationality. They have a right to a family and they should not be separated from their parents unless this is in their best interests. Governments should also ensure that children are not kidnapped or sold and cannot be taken abroad to be exploited. Prison should not be used to punish children and should only be for the shortest time possible.