Children rights are a set of human rights that recognize the special needs for care and protection of minors, generally defined as people under 18. These rights address children’s welfare, safety and development in order to ensure that they can reach their full potential. Children deserve to be treated with respect and dignity regardless of their age, gender, religion or culture.
Children’s rights are protected through international conventions and agreements that have been ratified by countries around the world. The most well known of these is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which was accepted in 1989 and has since been ratified by almost every country in the world.
The CRC has 54 articles, or parts, that can be grouped into three broad classes of children’s rights: protection, provision and participation. Several of these articles are directly related to health, such as the right to life and security of person and the right to a standard of living that ensures healthy nutrition and a safe environment.
For example, the right to life and security of person ensures that children have access to medical care when they need it and are shielded from any form of exploitation or abuse. The right to a standard of living that provides for basic nutritional requirements and the right to health education are also important for children’s well-being.
Similarly, the right to participate in society and the rights to a free education are both important for children’s development and ability to contribute as adults. In addition, the right to be listened to is also a fundamental one. The Committee on the Rights of the Child has produced many General Comments that help explain how to apply and interpret the CRC in practice. One of these, called General Comment 12, focuses on the right to be listened to.
However, despite these important provisions, the human rights of children are frequently violated and ignored. Some of the most severe violations include ignoring the need for vaccination, preventing children from attending school and being forced into labor. Additionally, more than 290 million girls worldwide lack an official birth certificate, and thus do not have the legal right to claim their rights or services. All of these violations are against the human rights of children and must be stopped. This is why it is important to spread awareness of the rights of children and encourage people to take action on behalf of them. Children are the future of our world, and protecting their rights should be a top priority for everyone. We can make a difference by taking actions on the ground and calling out those who are violating these rights. We can also support international organizations that work on children’s rights, such as the U.N. Children’s Fund, which is dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of all children.