A child is any person under the age of 18. Children rights are the things that a child is entitled to. Every child is born with these rights and they cannot be taken away. These rights are described in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
The CRC describes who a child is, all their rights and the responsibilities of governments to protect them. The convention also explains how to make sure that the world meets all of a child’s needs. It includes things like health care, food and housing.
All countries have a responsibility to help their children when they need it. This is especially important when they are affected by war or natural disasters. They also have a responsibility to help children learn and grow. They must make sure that children have the right kind of work and enough to eat. They must also give children the right to be protected from violence and exploitation. They must make sure that all children are educated, safe and healthy. They must protect children from being sold, trafficked, used as slaves or exposed to pornography and sexual abuse. They must ensure that every child has a good relationship with their parents and siblings. They must give children the opportunity to join groups and organizations so they can share their opinions with others. They must also take these opinions seriously.
Children should have the chance to use their own language and culture – even if these are not shared by other people in the country where they live. They have a right to be free from harmful work, drugs, sex exploitation (being taken advantage of for money), corporal punishment, emotional and mental abuse, harmful detention and war. They should have the right to get legal and medical help when they are abused or treated unfairly.
All children have the right to freedom of expression and to be heard by adults, especially if they are poor, disabled or living in remote areas. This is because children are often excluded from society and the law. They have the right to education, including schooling in their own languages, and to work. They have the right to access information from many sources, including the Internet, television and books. This is because they can be better informed when making decisions.
In some situations, children have the right to decide what they want to do without asking their parents for permission. This is called liberty rights. It can be dangerous for some children, but it is a good way for them to develop independence. It is also a way for them to learn to act responsibly and think about other people.
In addition to these rights, every child has the right to be alive. Governments must do all they can to make sure that children are healthy and happy. They should make sure that all children have enough food, water and clothing. They should also have an official record of their name and nationality. They should not be separated from their parents unless it is in their best interests.