The Convention sets out the rights children and young people should receive up to the age of 18. 

 

It aims to promote the equal worth of every child regardless of race, colour, gender, language, religion, country or ability.  It also mentions the responsibilities parents, governments and children themselves have to ensure the rights of children are met.

In 1989, world leaders at the United Nations decided that children all around the world needed a special convention just for them.  A convention in this case is an agreement on a set of standards concerning children.  The lack of reference to children in talks about human rights, and the reliance of children on adults to receive their rights confirmed the need for children to have their own convention.  When a country ratifies a convention they accept the standards as their own.  To date all countries except for the United States have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Take a look at the  2010 multi-media special edition of The State Of The World's Children which celebrates 20 years of The Convention on the Rights of the Child.

There are 54 statements (called articles) in the Convention.  They cover children's: Right to Survival - this is the right to life, to the highest possible standard of care to make sure children survive; Right to Develop - these rights include everything children need as they grow up including healthcare, people to care for them, education, information and the right to have a voice and participate in activities; Right to Protection - these rights help children keep safe.  They include the right to be protected from abuse, the right to a name and a country and the right to receive care or help.  A pamphlet on the Convention giving an overview and a summary of the articles can be downloaded (Page 1)(Page 2) or you are welcome to order free copies - it is written in both English and Maori.

New Zealand ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the 13th March 1993.  By agreeing to do this our government has agreed the best interests of the child must come first where decisions, laws or services involve children.  In addition they have taken on the job of bringing our current laws into line with the convention.  Our support of the convention means New Zealand recognises all children everywhere need to have their basic rights realised.  An international committee keeps track on how well all countries who have ratified the convention are doing.