United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child

Summary

The script discusses the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, highlighting its history and significance as the most ratified human rights treaty. It underscores the rights of every child under 18, emphasizing non-discrimination, the child's best interests, and the right to life, survival, and development. The Convention holds states accountable, requiring them to integrate its principles into local laws and monitor progress through reports to an independent expert committee. It also promotes awareness and training to foster societies that respect children's rights.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is a treaty dedicated to children's rights, emphasizing that children are also human and should enjoy rights like adults.
• 📜 The idea of children's rights dates back to the early 20th century, with the first international declaration promoted by activists like Eglantine Jeb after World War I.
• 🌏 The United Nations, an international organization focused on peace and human rights, adopted an expanded version of the child rights declaration in 1959 and later the Convention in 1989.
• 🔄 The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely supported human rights treaty, ratified by the majority of UN member states, making it the most ratified treaty.
• 🏛 Countries that ratify the Convention are called States Parties and become Duty Bearers, obligated to uphold the Convention's articles, including government workers like police officers and teachers.
• 👦 Rights holders under the Convention are individuals under 18, irrespective of their sex, religion, race, disability, or citizenship status.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents are also rights holders, entitled to state assistance in raising their children and to provide advice and guidance to their children.
• 📝 The Convention covers a wide range of children's rights, categorized into civil rights, family environment, health and welfare, education, leisure, culture, and special protection measures.
• 🔑 The Convention's general principles include non-discrimination, the best interest of the child, the right to life, survival, and development, and the right for children's views to be considered.
• 👀 The enforcement of the Convention is monitored by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, with States Parties required to submit progress reports every five years.
• 📊 The Committee's assessment includes information from NGOs and Children's Commissioners, and children can also submit evidence, contributing to the creation of societies that respect children's rights.
• 📚 Full implementation of the Convention requires States to integrate its obligations into local laws and have a national plan for children, ensuring meaningful rights protection for every child.

Q & A

What is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international treaty dedicated to children's rights, setting a global human rights agenda for every person under the age of 18. It is the most widely supported human rights treaty ever produced by the United Nations.

When was the idea of children having rights first promoted?

The idea of children having rights was first promoted in the aftermath of the First World War, with activists like Eglantine Jeb campaigning for the first international declaration of the right of the child in 1924.

What is the role of the United Nations in promoting human rights?

The United Nations is an international organization committed to maintaining peace and security and promoting human rights. It does this through international human rights agreements based on the core principles of human dignity, equality, and respect.

Who are considered 'States Parties' in the context of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?

States Parties are countries that have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, agreeing to be bound by its treaties and taking on the duty to uphold the articles of the Convention.

What does it mean for a State Party to be a 'Duty bearer'?

As a Duty bearer, a State Party has a duty to uphold the articles of the Convention, which includes everyone who works for the government, such as police officers, lawyers, teachers, and social workers.

Who are the 'rights holders' under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?

The rights holders under the Convention are anyone under the age of 18, irrespective of their sex, religion, race, disability, or citizenship status. Parents are also rights holders, entitled to assistance from the state in raising their children.

What are the general principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?

The general principles of the Convention include non-discrimination, the best interest of the child, the right to life, survival, and development, and the right for children's views to be given due weight.

How are the rights of the Convention categorized?

The rights of the Convention can be grouped into five categories: civil rights and freedoms, family environment and alternative care, health and welfare, education, leisure, and culture, and special protection measures for children in emergency situations, justice systems, child exploitation, and minority groups.

What are the additional protocols included in the Convention over the years?

Additional three optional protocols have been included in the Convention related to military conflict, the sale of children, and individual complaints by children to the Committee.

How is the Convention enforced?

The Convention is enforced through ongoing monitoring by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. States Parties must submit a progress report to the committee every five years, and the committee's assessment is supplemented with information from other organizations and children themselves.

What recommendations does the Committee on the Rights of the Child provide to States Parties?

The Committee provides implementation and improvement recommendations to each individual state in the form of concluding observations, which summarize the committee's views on the state of children's rights in each country and suggest measures for improvement.

What is the importance of raising awareness about the Convention on the Rights of the Child?

Raising awareness about the Convention is crucial to ensure that it is widely known by both adults and children. Regular training for both groups contributes to the creation of societies that respect the rights of children and understand the obligations of Duty bearers.