Millions of children live in countries where they don’t get enough to eat, can’t go to school or are trapped in conflict zones. They are often exposed to violence and exploitation from people they should be able to trust. They struggle to breathe clean air, find it hard to access healthcare and are unable to participate in cultural or community life because they can’t leave their homes.
Every child has a right to education, health care, safe water and sanitation, adequate nutrition and housing, and a childhood free from violence and abuse. These rights are the foundation for a child’s ability to learn and grow into a productive adult. Yet children’s rights are still being violated every day, affecting the lives of billions.
Children are the most vulnerable members of society. Their rights are defined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, an agreement by countries who have promised to protect them. The Convention explains who children are, all their rights and what governments must do to ensure these rights are met.
The Convention outlines the basic human rights that every child must have, including the right to food, education, healthcare and protection from harm. It also includes a commitment to protect children from all kinds of discrimination and to respect and promote their dignity. The Convention recognises that children have a special position in society and need to be guided by their families, communities and adults. But it also recognises that they must be able to take their own part in society when they grow up, so that they can help to shape the world we all share.
It’s crucial that all adults think about how their actions, whether big or small, will impact on children. We must all work together to make sure that every child has the chance to fulfil their potential and have a happy and fulfilled life.
Janna Jihad lives in the village of Nabi Salih, part of the occupied Palestinian territory. Her life is dominated by military occupation, with Israeli soldiers regularly raiding homes and schools in the middle of the night while families are asleep. They interrupt her daily routines and limit her freedom of movement by creating barriers and checkpoints that force delays of hours on any journey. This makes it very hard to earn a living or even attend school.
Janna and millions of other children like her are denied their right to an education because they live in a conflict zone. They are often forced to work long hours under dangerous conditions to earn a living. They struggle to access healthcare because of barriers and checkpoints that prevent them from getting where they need to go. They are unable to access vital sanitation facilities and cannot afford medical treatment. They are not allowed to celebrate their culture or take part in community life because of a lack of cultural and recreational spaces. They are at high risk of being subjected to physical and sexual violence and have little or no control over their futures.