Did you know that you have rights?

Did you know that there is a law called the Convention on the Rights of the Child?

Your rights are about what you are allowed to do, and what the people responsible for you have to do for you to make sure you are happy, healthy and safe. Of course you also have responsibilities towards other children and adults, to make sure they get their rights. A convention is an agreement between countries to obey the same law. When the government of a country ratifies a convention, that means it agrees to obey the law written down in that convention.

Each article of the Convention explains one of your rights. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is written for lawyers, so it is not easy even for adults to understand. We decided to pick out the rights we think are most important and explain them here in our own words. We have put them into different groups.

You have a right to know what your rights are - it says so in Article 42!

Some of your general rights

These are your general rights protected by the Convention.
The other rights are more specific.

Article 1
Everyone under 18 years of age has all the rights in this convention.

Article 2
You have these rights, whoever you are, whoever your parents are, whatever colour you are, whatever sex or religion you are, whatever language you speak, whether you have a disability, or if you are rich or poor.

Article 3
Whenever an adult has anything to do with you, he or she should do what is best for you.

Article 6
Everyone should recognise that you have the right to live.

Article 7
You have the right to have a name, and when you are born, your name, your parents' names and the date should be written down. You have the right to a nationality, and the right to know and be cared for by your parents.

Article 12
Whenever adults make a decision which will affect you in any way, you have the right to give your opinion, and the adults have to take that seriously.

You and your parents

These are the rights, which talk about the responsibilities between you and your parents.

Article 9
You should not be separated from your parents unless it is for your own good. For instance, your parents may be hurting you or not taking care of you. Also, if your parents decide to live apart, you will have to live with one or the other of them, but you have the right to contact both parents easily.

Article 10
If you or your parents are living in separate countries, you have the right to get back together and live in the same place.

Article 18
Both of your parents should be involved in bringing you up and they should do what is best for you.

Article 20
If you do not have any parents, or if it is not safe for you to live with your parents, you have the right to special protection and help.

Article 21
If you have to be adopted, adults should make sure that everything is arranged in the way that is best for you.

What you can say and think!

These are the rights, which talk about how you can express yourself.

Article 13
You have the right to find out things and say what you think through speaking, writing, making art etc., unless it breaks the rights of others.

Article 14
You have the right to think what you like and be whatever religion you want to be. Your parents should help you learn what is right and wrong.

Article 15
You have the right to meet, make friends and make clubs with other people, unless it breaks the rights of others.

Article 16
You have the right to a private life. For instance, you can keep a diary that other people are not allowed to see.

Article 17
You have the right to collect information from radios, newspapers, televisions, books etc, from all around the world. Adults should make sure that you get information you can understand.

Article 30
If you come from a minority group, you have the right to enjoy your own culture, practise your own religion and use your own language.

Article 31
You have a right to play.

Keeping you healthy and well

These are the rights, which make sure you are healthy, have a good standard of living and can go to school.

Article 23
If you are disabled, either mentally or physically, you have the right to special care and education to help you grow up in the same way as other children.

Article 24
You have a right to good health. This means that you should have professional care and medicines when you are sick. Adults should try their hardest to make sure that children do not get sick in the first place by feeding and taking good care of them.

Article 27
You have the right to a good enough "standard of living". This means that parents have the responsibility to make sure you have food, clothes, a place to live, etc. If parents cannot afford this, the government should help.

Article 28
You have the right to education. Primary education must be free and you must go to primary school. You should also be able to go to secondary school.

Article 29
The purpose of your education is to develop your personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to the fullest. Education should also prepare you live responsibly and peacefully, in a free society, understanding the rights of other people, and respecting the environment.

Article 32
You have the right to be protected from working in places or conditions that are likely to damage your health or get in the way of your education. If somebody is making money out of your work, you should be paid fairly.

Stopping people hurting you

These are the rights, which make sure nobody can hurt you.

Article 11
You should not be kidnapped, and, if you are, the government should try their hardest to get you back.

Article 19
No one should hurt you in any way. Adults should make sure that you are protected from abuse, violence and neglect. Even your parents have no right to hurt you.

Article 22
If you are a refugee (meaning you have to leave your own country because it is not safe for you to live there) you have the right to special protection and help.

Article 33
You have the right to be protected from illegal drugs and from the business of making and selling drugs.

Article 34
You have the right to be protected from sexual abuse. This means that nobody can do anything to your body that you do not want them to do, such as touching you or taking pictures of you or making you say things that you don't want to say.

Article 35
No one is allowed to kidnap or sell you.

Article 37
Even if you do something wrong, no one is allowed to punish you in a way that humiliates you or hurts you badly. You should never be put in prison except as a last resort, and, if you are put in prison, you have the right to special care and regular visits with your family.

Article 38
You have a right to protection in times of war. If you are under fifteen, you should never have to be in an army or take part in a battle.

Article 39
If you have been hurt or neglected in any way, for instance in a war, you have the right to special care and treatment.

Article 40
You have the right to defend yourself if you have been accused of committing a crime. The police and the lawyers and the judges in court should treat you with respect and make sure you understand everything that is going on.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child has 54 articles in all, but most of the rest are about how adults and governments should work together to make sure all children get their rights.

You might want to read more about the Convention. Talk about it with your friends, your parents and your teachers. By telling other people about children's rights, you will be helping other children too. The more people understand that children have rights, the more likely they are to help everyone get what they need to grow up healthy, and safe, and free.

With many thanks to UNICEF, UK.

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

© Copyright 1999, UNICEF UK

For more information please e-mail: http://www.unicef.org.uk