Having children brings so much joy into people’s lives. From the first time they roll over to the moment they walk, there is nothing quite like it. However, children can also cause a lot of worry and anxiety. That’s why it’s important to know what rights children have.

Children’s rights are enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), an international treaty that is the most ratified of all human rights treaties. It contains 54 articles that spell out all the things a child is entitled to. It was drafted in 1989 and came into force in 1990. It applies to everyone who is a child, whether they have been born or not.

A central principle is that a government should ensure that every child has a standard of living adequate for their physical, mental, spiritual and moral development. This is known as their right to welfare. It includes basic needs such as food, water and shelter. It also includes education and health care. Governments must protect children from being exploited and from sexual exploitation, which involves being forced to have sex for money or other material benefits. They must also protect children from drug abuse, including the taking and possession of drugs that are harmful to their health and development.

Every child has a right to a family. They should be able to live with their parents or other adults who are responsible for them, and where this is not possible, they have a right to be looked after by people who respect their culture, religion and language. They have a right to be educated and to receive the highest quality education available to them. Governments should make sure that schools are safe and that they have enough teachers. They should ensure that children can get the medical care they need when they are sick.

Children should be involved in decisions that affect them, either directly or through a representative. Governments should take steps to ensure this is done, even if it requires changing laws. Governments should allow children to be heard in judicial and administrative proceedings that affect them. This is especially important when the proceedings may involve their health, well-being or freedom.

Governments should protect children from discrimination. This should include the eradication of any forms of discrimination against children, such as sexism, racism and xenophobia. They should also work to ensure that every child has the same opportunities as others, regardless of their background or financial circumstances.

Children’s rights are a fundamental part of our humanity. Our mission is to investigate, expose and combat violations of these rights through relentless strategic advocacy and legal action. We do this by connecting kids and families with resources that keep them healthy, happy and safe. It’s a crucial way to give children the chance to become everything they can be. To learn more about our work, click here. We believe that all children deserve the opportunity to live a full and meaningful life, and we are fighting to make sure this happens.