About the Convention on the Rights of the Child
The provisions and principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child guide UNICEF Canada in
OUR VISION:
Background: In 1989, world leaders decided that children warranted a special human rights treaty because people under 18 years old often need care and protection that adults do not.
The leaders also wanted to make sure that the world recognizes that children have human rights too—the same as adults—including civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.
- Everyone under 18 has these rights.
- All children have these rights, no matter who they are, where they live, what their parents do, what language they speak, what their religion is, whether they are a boy or girl, what their culture is, whether they have a disability, whether they are rich or poor. No child should be treated unfairly on any basis.
- All adults should do what is best for children. When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children.
The government has a responsibility to make sure children’s rights are protected. It must help families protect children’s rights and create an environment in which every child can grow and reach their potential.
The Convention has achieved near-universal acceptance, having now been ratified by 193 parties [countries], including Canada. That’s more than any other treaty introduced in history!
