Children bring a huge amount of joy to many people’s lives. The first time they roll over, take their first step or speak their first word, it’s an amazing thing to be part of. But sadly, not all children get to enjoy that, with millions of kids around the world being denied the right to a safe childhood and an education that can give them the chance to live a happy and fulfilled life.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the most important international agreement that sets out what governments should do to protect children’s rights and make sure they have everything they need to thrive. It’s been ratified by 196 countries so far and is the most widely endorsed human rights treaty in history.
Governments must guarantee that every child survives by providing them with good health care, food and water, a clean environment, a school where they can learn, and enough money to live in a decent home. The UNCRC also gives children the right to a parent or other adult who can care for them and keep them safe. But this must be balanced against the need to allow children the freedom to express themselves and to make their own choices, including decisions about their personal lives.
Every child deserves an education that will give them the knowledge and skills they need for life. It’s important that the school they go to teaches them about how to stay healthy, how to be safe and responsible and how to help others. It must also respect their autonomy, rights and cultures and teach them to be peaceful, not violent.
Children have the right to freedom from all kinds of abuse, which can include harmful work, taking, making, or selling drugs, sexual exploitation, corporal punishment and emotional and psychological abuse. They also have the right to a fair trial when they are accused of breaking the law and they should be treated with dignity.
All children have a right to privacy, which means that their family home, personal communications and reputation should be protected. Children should also be able to complain about the way they’re being treated and to have their case taken seriously by the courts.
The UNCRC outlines all the things that children need to survive and grow up as well as they can, but it’s only through action on the ground, with the help of UNICEF staff working in over 190 countries, that we’re getting closer to realising the full potential of every child. We’re changing laws, educating families and the public, and helping more children reach their dreams of a better future. There are still big challenges ahead, but with your support, we can overcome them. We can make sure that every child has a safe, nutritious diet, access to quality healthcare and a great education so they can be the people they want to be and make our world a better place.