FACT SHEET: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa

Article 1 (Definition of the child): The Convention defines a 'child' as a person below the age of 18, 
unless the laws of a particular country set the legal age for adulthood younger. The Committee on the 
Rights of the Child, the monitoring body for the Convention, has encouraged States to review the age of 
majority if it is set below 18 and to increase the level of protection for all children under 18. Article 2 (Non-discrimination): The Convention applies to all children, whatever their race, religion or 
abilities; whatever they think or say, whatever type of family they come from. It doesn’t matter where 
children live, what language they speak, what their parents do, whether they are boys or girls, what their 
culture is, whether they have a disability or whether they are rich or poor. No child should be treated 
unfairly on any basis. 

Article 3 (Best interests of the child): The best interests of children must be the primary concern in 
making decisions that may affect them. All adults should do what is best for children. When adults make 
decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children. This particularly applies to 
budget, policy and law makers. Article 4 (Protection of rights): Governments have a responsibility to take all available measures to 
make sure children’s rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. When countries ratify the Convention, 
they agree to review their laws relating to children. This involves assessing their social services, legal, 
health and educational systems, as well as levels of funding for these services. Governments are then 
obliged to take all necessary steps to ensure that the minimum standards set by the Convention in these 
areas are being met. They must help families protect children’s rights and create an environment where 
they can grow and reach their potential. In some instances, this may involve changing existing laws or 
creating new ones. Such legislative changes are not imposed, but come about through the same process 
by which any law is created or reformed within a country. Article 41 of the Convention points out the when 
a country already has higher legal standards than those seen in the Convention, the higher standards 
always prevail. Article 5 (Parental guidance): Governments should respect the rights and responsibilities of families to 
direct and guide their children so that, as they grow, they learn to use their rights properly. Helping 
children to understand their rights does not mean pushing them to make choices with consequences that 
they are too young to handle. Article 5 encourages parents to deal with rights issues "in a manner 
consistent with the evolving capacities of the child". The Convention does not take responsibility for 
children away from their parents and give more authority to governments. It does place on governments 
the responsibility to protect and assist families in fulfilling their essential role as nurturers of children. Article 6 (Survival and development): Children have the right to live. Governments should ensure that 
children survive and develop healthily. 

Article 7 (Registration, name, nationality, care): All children have the right to a legally registered name, 
officially recognised by the government. Children have the right to a nationality (to belong to a country). 
Children also have the right to know and, as far as possible, to be cared for by their parents. Article 8 (Preservation of identity): Children have the right to an identity – an official record of who they 
are. Governments should respect children’s right to a name, a nationality and family ties. 

Article 9 (Separation from parents): Children have the right to live with their parent(s), unless it is bad 
for them. Children whose parents do not live together have the right to stay in contact with both parents, 
unless this might hurt the child. Article 10 (Family reunification): Families whose members live in different countries should be allowed 
to move between those countries so that parents and children can stay in contact, or get back together as 
a family. 

Article 11 (Kidnapping): Governments should take steps to stop children being taken out of their own 
country illegally. This Article is particularly concerned with parental abductions. The Convention’s Optional 
Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography has a provision that concerns 
abduction for financial gain. 

Article 12 (Respect for the views of the child): When adults are making decisions that affect children, 
children have the right to say what they think should happen and have their opinions taken into account. 
This does not mean that children can now tell their parents what to do. This Convention encourages 
adults to listen to the opinions of children and involve them in decision-making -- not give children 
authority over adults. Article 12 does not interfere with parents' right and responsibility to express their 
views on matters affecting their children. Moreover, the Convention recognizes that the level of a child’s 
participation in decisions must be appropriate to the child's level of maturity. Children's ability to form and 
express their opinions develops with age and most adults will naturally give the views of teenagers 
greater weight than those of a preschooler, whether in family, legal or administrative decisions. 

Article 12 (Respect for the views of the child): When adults are making decisions that affect children, 
children have the right to say what they think should happen and have their opinions taken into account. Article 13 (Freedom of expression): Children have the right to get and share information, as long as the 
information is not damaging to them or others. In exercising the right to freedom of expression, children 
have the responsibility to also respect the rights, freedoms and reputations of others. The freedom of 
expression includes the right to share information in any way they choose, including by talking, drawing or 
writing. 

Article 14 (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion): Children have the right to think and believe 
what they want and to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying 
their rights. Parents should help guide their children in these matters. The Convention respects the rights 
and duties of parents in providing religious and moral guidance to their children. Religious groups around 
the world have expressed support for the Convention, which indicates that it in no way prevents parents 
from bringing their children up within a religious tradition. At the same time, the Convention recognizes 
that as children mature and are able to form their own views, some may question certain religious 
practices or cultural traditions. The Convention supports children's right to examine their beliefs, but it 
also states that their right to express their beliefs implies respect for the rights and freedoms of others. Article 15 (Freedom of association): Children have the right to meet together and to join groups and 
organisations, as long as it does not stop other people from enjoying their rights. In exercising their rights, 
children have the responsibility to respect the rights, freedoms and reputations of others. 

Article 16 (Right to privacy): Children have a right to privacy. The law should protect them from attacks 
against their way of life, their good name, their families and their homes. Article 17 (Access to information; mass media): Children have the right to get information that is 
important to their health and well-being. Governments should encourage mass media – radio, television, 
newspapers and Internet content sources – to provide information that children can understand and to not 
promote materials that could harm children. Mass media should particularly be encouraged to supply 
information in languages that minority and indigenous children can understand. Children should also have 
access to children’s books. 

Article 18 (Parental responsibilities; state assistance): Both parents share responsibility for bringing 
up their children, and should always consider what is best for each child. Governments must respect the 
responsibility of parents for providing appropriate guidance to their children – the Convention does not 
take responsibility for children away from their parents and give more authority to governments. It places 
a responsibility on governments to provide support services to parents, especially if both parents work 
outside the home. Article 19 (Protection from all forms of violence): Children have the right to be protected from being 
hurt and mistreated, physically or mentally. Governments should ensure that children are properly cared 
for and protect them from violence, abuse and neglect by their parents, or anyone else who looks after them. In terms of discipline, the Convention does not specify what forms of punishment parents should 
use. However any form of discipline involving violence is unacceptable. There are ways to discipline 
children that are effective in helping children learn about family and social expectations for their behaviour 
– ones that are non-violent, are appropriate to the child's level of development and take the best interests 
of the child into consideration. In most countries, laws already define what sorts of punishments are 
considered excessive or abusive. It is up to each government to review these laws in light of the 
Convention. 

Article 20 (Children deprived of family environment): Children who cannot be looked after by their 
own family have a right to special care and must be looked after properly, by people who respect their 
ethnic group, religion, culture and language. Article 21 (Adoption): Children have the right to care and protection if they are adopted or in foster care. 
The first concern must be what is best for them. The same rules should apply whether they are adopted 
in the country where they were born, or if they are taken to live in another country. 

Article 22 (Refugee children): Children have the right to special protection and help if they are refugees 
(if they have been forced to leave their home and live in another country), as well as all the rights in this 
Convention. Article 23 (Children with disabilities): Children who have any kind of disability have the right to special 
care and support, as well as all the rights in the Convention, so that they can live full and independent 
lives. 

Article 24 (Health and health services): Children have the right to good quality health care – the best 
health care possible – to safe drinking water, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment, and 
information to help them stay healthy. Rich countries should help poorer countries achieve this. Article 25 (Review of treatment in care): Children who are looked after by their local authorities, rather 
than their parents, have the right to have these living arrangements looked at regularly to see if they are 
the most appropriate. Their care and treatment should always be based on “the best interests of the 
child”. (see Guiding Principles, Article 3) Article 26 (Social security): Children – either through their guardians or directly – have the right to help 
from the government if they are poor or in need. 

Article 27 (Adequate standard of living): Children have the right to a standard of living that is good 
enough to meet their physical and mental needs. Governments should help families and guardians who 
cannot afford to provide this, particularly with regard to food, clothing and housing. Article 28: (Right to education): All children have the right to a primary education, which should be free. 
Wealthy countries should help poorer countries achieve this right. Discipline in schools should respect 
children’s dignity. For children to benefit from education, schools must be run in an orderly way – without 
the use of violence. Any form of school discipline should take into account the child's human dignity. 
Therefore, governments must ensure that school administrators review their discipline policies and 
eliminate any discipline practices involving physical or mental violence, abuse or neglect. The Convention 
places a high value on education. Young people should be encouraged to reach the highest level of 
education of which they are capable. 

Article 29 (Goals of education): Children’s education should develop each child’s personality, talents 
and abilities to the fullest. It should encourage children to respect others, human rights and their own and 
other cultures. It should also help them learn to live peacefully, protect the environment and respect other 
people. Children have a particular responsibility to respect the rights their parents, and education should 
aim to develop respect for the values and culture of their parents. The Convention does not address such 
issues as school uniforms, dress codes, the singing of the national anthem or prayer in schools. It is up to 
governments and school officials in each country to determine whether, in the context of their society and 
existing laws, such matters infringe upon other rights protected by the Convention. Article 30 (Children of minorities/indigenous groups): Minority or indigenous children have the right to 
learn about and practice their own culture, language and religion. The right to practice one’s own culture, 
language and religion applies to everyone; the Convention here highlights this right in instances where 
the practices are not shared by the majority of people in the country. 

Article 31 (Leisure, play and culture): Children have the right to relax and play, and to join in a wide 
range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities. Article 32 (Child labour): The government should protect children from work that is dangerous or might 
harm their health or their education. While the Convention protects children from harmful and exploitative 
work, there is nothing in it that prohibits parents from expecting their children to help out at home in ways 
that are safe and appropriate to their age. If children help out in a family farm or business, the tasks they 
do be safe and suited to their level of development and comply with national labour laws. Children's work 
should not jeopardize any of their other rights, including the right to education, or the right to relaxation 
and play. 

Article 33 (Drug abuse): Governments should use all means possible to protect children from the use of 
harmful drugs and from being used in the drug trade. Article 34 (Sexual exploitation): Governments should protect children from all forms of sexual 
exploitation and abuse. This provision in the Convention is augmented by the Optional Protocol on the 
sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. 

Article 35 (Abduction, sale and trafficking): The government should take all measures possible to 
make sure that children are not abducted, sold or trafficked. This provision in the Convention is 
augmented by the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Article 36 (Other forms of exploitation): Children should be protected from any activity that takes 
advantage of them or could harm their welfare and development. 

Article 37 (Detention and punishment): No one is allowed to punish children in a cruel or harmful way. 
Children who break the law should not be treated cruelly. They should not be put in prison with adults, 
should be able to keep in contact with their families, and should not be sentenced to death or life 
imprisonment without possibility of release. Article 38 (War and armed conflicts): Governments must do everything they can to protect and care for 
children affected by war. Children under 15 should not be forced or recruited to take part in a war or join 
the armed forces. The Convention’s Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict 
further develops this right, raising the age for direct participation in armed conflict to 18 and establishing a 
ban on compulsory recruitment for children under 18. 

Article 39 (Rehabilitation of child victims): Children who have been neglected, abused or exploited 
should receive special help to physically and psychologically recover and reintegrate into society. 
Particular attention should be paid to restoring the health, self-respect and dignity of the child. Article 40 (Juvenile justice): Children who are accused of breaking the law have the right to legal help 
and fair treatment in a justice system that respects their rights. Governments are required to set a 
minimum age below which children cannot be held criminally responsible and to provide minimum 
guarantees for the fairness and quick resolution of judicial or alternative proceedings. 

Article 41 (Respect for superior national standards): If the laws of a country provide better protection 
of children’s rights than the Articles in this Convention, those laws should apply. 

Article 42 (Knowledge of rights): Governments should make the Convention known to adults and 
children. Adults should help children learn about their rights, too. (See also Article 4.) 

Articles 43-54 (implementation measures): These Articles discuss how governments and international 
organizations like UNICEF should work to ensure children are protected in their rights.