Children Rights are the fundamental rights of every child, regardless of their age or gender, sex, ethnicity, nationality, wealth or birthplace. Children have a right to survive, thrive and reach their full potential as human beings. This includes the right to life, health, education and protection from abuse. Children have the right to be informed about their rights, and to participate in decisions that affect them. Children have a right to a standard of living adequate for their physical, mental and spiritual well-being, including food, clothing, housing and medical care. They have the right to a standard of education that enables them to achieve their full potential. They have the right to freedom of expression, and to take part in cultural activities and the arts, without prejudice to their safety. They have the right to be protected from all forms of violence, including sexual abuse, neglect and exploitation, and have access to justice.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is an international legal instrument that sets out universal standards for protecting and promoting the best interests of the child. The CRC addresses the rights of the most vulnerable groups of children, such as refugees, internally displaced persons, children with disabilities and indigenous children. It also covers important issues such as the role of governments in keeping families together, and the importance of respecting a child’s right to privacy.

It is now widely accepted that children have rights, but the interpretation and realization of these rights is contested both locally and globally. Many states struggle with the implications of a rights-based approach, and are cautious about treating children as a legal subject. Legal systems have to balance the rights of a child with the needs and preferences of their parents, and of society as a whole.

Changing views about childhood are effecting legal change, for example children are now acknowledged as having a voice in law in an increasing number of jurisdictions. This has prompted debates on whether to protect children from traditional childrearing practices, and it has led to a movement towards the democratization of family life. It has also given rise to a movement against corporal punishment of children.

Children have a right to be alive and to be safe from all kinds of harm, including malnutrition, infectious diseases, lack of shelter, physical and emotional abuse and discrimination. They have a right to have an identity which is officially recognized by the state, including their name, place and date of birth, and their family relations. Governments must ensure that if their identity is lost, they are assisted in regaining it. They have a right to family life, which means that they must not be separated from their parents unless it is necessary in the interest of the child. They have a right to education which helps them to develop their personalities, talents and skills, to achieve their full potential as human beings. They have a right to rest and leisure, and to participate freely in cultural activities and the arts.