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“Children are not mini-people. They have rights – not mini-rights.” Maud de
Boer-Bouquiccio, Deputy Secretary General, Council of Europe
ARE CHILDREN’S RIGHTS DIFFERENT FROM HUMAN RIGHTS?
No! Children’s rights are not different from those held by adults. But children can be more vulnerable than adults
and require special protection. Adults therefore have special responsibilities towards children. As a result, the UN
decided that the rights of children should be spelled out in a human rights treaty created just for them. The result
was the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD (CRC)
Child rights first became an issue in the mid-1800s, when child labour was used all over the world. A number
of countries began to pass laws to protect children against working in harmful conditions. For example, in 1842
the UK Mines Act was created to stop children under the age of ten from working in mines. But it took another
100 years for child rights to really take shape. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – the most famous
international human rights agreement – states that childhood is special and requires special protection. It inspired
many campaigners – including children – to push for a special child rights treaty. Decades later, in 1989, the
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was born.
WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT THE CRC?
One of the reasons it was so long in the making is that the CRC completely changed the way that children are
viewed. Unlike previous treaties dealing with children, the CRC does not treat children as passive objects but as
individuals who have rights, including the right to express opinions. It says that countries should involve children in
all decisions that affect them, not only at the local level, but at the national and international levels too.
www.una.org.uk
www.unesco.org.uk
The CRC is groundbreaking because it is:
Universal – every child should enjoy all the rights in the CRC
Unconditional – all governments have to take action to protect the rights of all children
Innovative – the CRC was the first major human rights treaty to say that people with disabilities and
from minority backgrounds need special protection
olistic – the CRC combines all human rights with the special needs of children, for example, the rights to
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a name, nationality, and family reunification. The CRC also has two ‘add-on’ agreements (called ‘optional
protocols’) on preventing child exploitation and protecting children in armed conflict
HOW DOES THE CRC PROTECT CHILDREN IN THE UK?
The UK signed up to the CRC in 1991. By doing so, it pledged to take all necessary
steps to make children’s rights a reality. Steps taken so far include:
t he Children Act 2004, which aims to transform children’s services so that
their rights can be fulfilled.
outh Capital Funds, which give young people the chance to decide how
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money should be spent on youth activities and facilities.
hildren’s Commissioners, people whose job is to improve communication
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between the government and young people.
t he Human Rights Act 1998, a British law that makes the UK’s international
human rights responsibilities part of British law. Until the Human Rights Act
was created, British courts did not have to consider international human
rights when making decisions. This meant that people whose rights had been
abused had to travel all the way to Strasbourg, France, to the European Court
of Human Rights, to have their cases heard.
WHO MAKES SURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT FULFILS
ITS PLEDGES?
Countries
Countries then
CHOOSE
PLEDGE
to sign up to a
treaty and be
bound by its laws
to make the
rights a reality
NATIONAL LAW
&
The country must
make these rights
part of both
NATIONAL POLICIES
Even though the government has by law the responsibility for protecting
children’s rights, we all have to help. Protecting children’s rights needs active
participation by all parts of society: families, schools, social services, local and
national government, and the international community, as well as every child.
Knowing your rights is the first and most important step. Using your right
to participate is the next. By actively participating in your school and local
community, you can make a huge difference. Many young people already do –
for example, by speaking out against racism and knife crime. This in itself is an
enormous step towards achieving children’s rights for all.
Voice is an organisation led by young people from across the UK. It aims to
make the views of 16-25 year-olds heard. The group encourages young people
to take a stand against carrying weapons and promotes an honest debate on
drugs. It looks at what opportunities exist for the homeless young and campaigns
for balance in reporting on teenagers. Voice also offers practical help to young
people who want to develop skills like public speaking. Read more on
www.ukyouth.org