Children rights are the special human rights that recognise children as a vulnerable group, in particular their right to life and survival. They include the right to education, the right to healthcare and a healthy environment. Children also have the right to be free from abuse and exploitation, including harmful work, drugs, sexual and physical violence, child labour, human trafficking, war, and any other forms of deprivation, discrimination, or lack of opportunity.

All governments have the primary responsibility to protect and respect children’s rights, in peace and in times of war. This includes taking steps to prevent child soldiers and recruiting or sending them into armed conflict. They must ensure that children are not kidnapped or sold, and they should make sure that children who break the law get help, not punished harshly or put in prison forever. Prison should always be a last resort, and children in prison should have legal help and a way to stay in touch with their family.

Every child deserves a good home and family, with people who love them, give them care, encouragement, security, and support. However, this isn’t possible for some families, particularly those living in poor or remote areas of the world.

Around 290 million children do not have a birth certificate, meaning that they don’t have a legal identity and cannot access rights and services like schooling or health care. This is often because they are born at home and parents do not register the birth. It is also a problem for children who are born abroad and live in countries where there is not enough access to safe birth facilities.

The family is an important part of a child’s life, and a positive relationship with their father and mother is essential to a child’s well-being. It is a key component of their sense of belonging and happiness, as well as their ability to develop and achieve their full potential. However, some children experience family disintegration, such as when their parents are separated and cannot look after them. This can have a long-term negative impact on their lives and on society.

Children have the right to a quality education that provides them with a foundation for life and enables them to reach their full potential. Education should promote the spiritual, moral, mental and social development of children and should foster a sense of citizenship. It should also provide opportunities for children to learn and practice their own religion, language, culture, and traditions, but within the context of the state’s secular system of values.

Children have the right to be protected from all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect, and to enjoy their highest attainable standard of health. This includes the right to a clean and healthy environment, the right to food, water, shelter, medical attention, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society.