Every child has the right to food, a safe place to live and good health. Governments should help families who cannot afford these things. They should also teach children about how to look after themselves and protect the environment. Children need a good education so they can develop their personalities and talents, but they should also learn about other people’s rights, cultures and differences. Every child should be protected from violence, begging and forced marriage. They should be free from harmful work, drugs and other kinds of exploitation (being taken advantage of). Governments should try to keep families together (as long as it’s best for the children) and they should give money or other help to poor children. They should check children’s health regularly, especially if they are away from home.
If children are accused of a crime, they should be treated fairly. They should not be killed, tortured or treated cruelly, and they should only be kept in prison for the shortest time possible. Children in prison should have legal help and be allowed to see their family. Children should be able to express themselves and have opinions about anything that affects them, and they must be able to visit friends. They have the right to rest and leisure, as well as the right to play, take part in cultural activities and enjoy art that is meant for their age group.
The rights of all children are listed in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It was created in 1990 and has been ratified by 196 countries. It is one of the most important international treaties on human rights.
PLAN International works in 76 countries to promote children’s rights. They are focused on helping children become active citizens, and they encourage them to stand up for their rights and speak out against injustice. They believe that when children are empowered, they can change the world.
In 1948, after World War II ended, millions of Europe’s children were hungry and malnourished. This led to the creation of a new agency called UNICEF, which helped children around the world. They began to make a difference by giving children food, shelter and health care, and they were responsible for campaigns like the successful global fight against yaws.
Today, millions of children are still living in poverty. Many are missing out on schooling, and some are being killed or badly hurt. Their childhoods are being cut short because they have to leave school to find work, flee war or disaster, do dangerous jobs or get married. This is a big problem because when children are denied basic needs, they can’t thrive and they can’t fulfil their potential. Children need good health care, education and protection from violence to grow up healthy and happy. That’s why we must continue to work hard to make sure all children have their rights recognised and respected.