Rights for every child - UNICEF

1 RRiigghhttss ffoorr eevveerryy cchhiillddThe U N Convention on the Rights of the child states the Rights of all children and young people under the age of : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:32 Page : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:32 Page 2 CARED FORAll organisations concerned withchildren, for example, schools and thehealth service, should work towardswhat is best for each child . Article 3 All children have a right to a birthcertificate. Article 7 Children should not be separated fromtheir parents unless it is for theirown good. For instance, if a parent ishurting their child or not tak ingcare of them properly. Article 9If parents decide to live apart, childrenhave the right to stay in contactwith both parents. Article 9 Families who live in different countrieshave the right to get back together andlive in the same place.

2 Article 10 All over the world, children can be separated fromthe ones they love best. This mother and son arereunited after being separated by the 2004 tsunami. U N ICEF/05-1699/Jodh : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:32 Page : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:32 Page 4 PROTECTIONAll children should be protected fromviolence, abuse and neglect, andgovernments should protect them. Article 19 Children should not be allowed to doworkthat is dangerous or might makethem ill, or stops them going to 32 Children have a right to be protectedfrom dangerous drugs, and from thebusiness ofmaking or selling 33N obody can do anything to your bodythat you do not want them to do, andgrown-ups should protect you. Article 34N o child should be punished in a waythat humiliates or hurts them. Article 37 Over 100 million children do dangerous work , oftenaway from their families, and don t go to school.

3 U N ICEF/HQ96-0909/Roger : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:32 Page : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:32 Page 6 PARTICIPATINGAll children have a right to be able togive their opinion when adults aremaking a decision that will affect them,and adults should take it 12 All children have a right to find outthings, and say what they thinkthroughspeaking, writing, drawing etc. unless itbreaks the Rights ofothers. Article 13 All children have the right to meet, makefriends with, and join clubs with otherchildren. Article 15 All children have the right to 16 All children have the right to informationfrom TV, radio, newspapers and theinternet. These media should provideinformation that children canunderstand. Article 17A girl speak s on the U N ICEF-supported YoungPeople s Media N etwork (YPMN ), produced and runby children age 14 17 in Georgia.

4 U N ICEF/HQ04-1027/Giacomo : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:32 Page : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:32 Page 8 FREEDOM OF EXPRESSIONAll children have the right to thinkandbelieve what they want, and to practisetheir religion. Article 14 Parents should help children learn whatis right and wrong. Article 14 Children who are refugees or asylumseekers in another land have the right tospecial protection. They have the samerights as children who were born in thatcountry. Article 22 Children who come from a minoritygroup have the right to learn and use thelanguage and customs oftheir to practise their own religion anduse their own language. Article 30 Friendship knows no barriers ofcountry, culture,race or religion. U N ICEF/HQ79-0001/Shelley : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:32 Page : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:32 Page 10 EDUCATION AND PLAYAll children have the right to aneducation.

5 Article 28 The purpose ofeducation is to developevery child s personality, talents andmental and physical abilities. Article 29 Education should teach children torespect their parents, their own andother cultures. Article 29 Education should prepare children to liveresponsibly and peacefully in a freesociety. Article 29 Education should teach children torespect the natural environment. Article 29 All children have the right to relax andplay, and to join a wide range ofactivities. Article 31A Rwandan boy holds a U N ICEF schoolbook at hisprimary school. More than 90 million children donot receive primary education. U N ICEF/HQ07-1352/Giacomo : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:32 Page : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:32 Page 12 SURVIVAL AND DEVELOPMENTE very child has the right to life. Article 6 Children who are disabled, eithermentally or physically, have a right tospecial care and education so they canlead full and independent 23 All children have a right to good healthand good quality health care.

6 Allchildren should have clean water,nutritious food and a clean environmentso they stay healthy. Article 24 All children have the right to a decentstandard of living. The Governmentshould help families who cannot afford toprovide a decent standard ofliving fortheir children. Article 27A boy, age 9, drink s water from a tap in the villageof Boa Marte, Sao Tome. More than 120 millionchildren do not have safe water. U N ICEF/HQ97-1189/Giacomo : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:33 Page : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:33 Page 14 REHABILITATION* AND CAREC hildren under the age of 16 yearsshould not take a direct part in anyconflict. Article 38 Children who are affected by an armedconflict should have special protectionand care. Article 38 Children who have suffered in any wayhave a right to get help in a safe place,to help them recover.

7 Article 39* Rehabilitation means that things aredone to put life back to , age 6, watches as his parents unpack aU N ICEF water k it. The family lost their home in the2004 Asian tsunami. U N ICEF/HQ05-0239/Giacomo : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:33 Page 15 This bookbelongs to: ..I have shared this bookwith: ..AcknowledgementsIllustrations from For every child , published by Red Fox, a division of Random House Children sBook s, 61 63 U xbridge Road, Ealing W 5 5SA. , ; , Ken Wilson-Max; , Claudio Mu oz; , John Burningham; , Rabindra & Amrit Kaur Singh; , Satoshi Kitamura; , Peter Weevers; , Shirley HughesFor more copies of this leaflet call 0844 801 2414, and quote code : UNICEF Booklet 13/8/08 15:33 Page 16