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.

Outlines

00:00

👦 Children's Rights and the UN Convention

The paragraph discusses the fundamental human rights that children share with adults and introduces the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It traces the history of children's rights advocacy, starting with the first international declaration in 1924 and leading to the adoption of the Convention in 1989. The Convention is the most ratified human rights treaty, emphasizing the duties of States Parties as 'Duty bearers' to uphold children's rights. It covers a wide range of rights for children under 18, including civil rights, family environment, health, education, and special protections. The paragraph also explains the roles of 'rights holders' and the obligations of governments and their employees to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for children.

05:02

📜 Enforcement and Implementation of Children's Rights

This paragraph delves into the enforcement mechanisms of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, highlighting the role of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in monitoring the progress of States Parties through periodic reports. It mentions the involvement of NGOs, Children's Commissioners, and children themselves in providing evidence for these assessments. The resulting 'concluding observations' include recommendations for each state to improve children's rights. The paragraph underscores the necessity for states to integrate the Convention's principles into local laws and to develop a comprehensive national plan for children. It also stresses the importance of awareness, regular training, and the establishment of an independent children's Ombudsman to ensure the effective implementation of children's rights. The ultimate goal is to hold states accountable for their actions concerning children and to empower children, organizations, and advocates to advocate for change.

Keywords

💡Human Rights

Human Rights refer to the basic rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled, regardless of nationality, sex, ethnicity, or any other status. In the video, the concept is foundational, emphasizing that children, as humans, inherently possess these rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and security of person.

💡UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

This is a specific international treaty adopted by the United Nations in 1989, dedicated to the protection and promotion of children's rights. The video explains that it is the most widely ratified human rights treaty, setting a global standard for the treatment of children under the age of 18.

💡States Parties

States Parties are countries that have ratified a treaty and are thus bound by its provisions. In the context of the video, States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child have a duty to uphold the rights outlined in the treaty, making them 'Duty bearers'.

💡Duty Bearers

Duty Bearers are those who have the responsibility to fulfill the obligations set out in human rights treaties. The video script mentions that government workers, such as police officers, lawyers, teachers, and social workers, are Duty Bearers in relation to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

💡Rights Holders

Rights Holders are individuals who benefit from and can claim the rights outlined in human rights treaties. The video clarifies that anyone under the age of 18 is considered a Rights Holder according to the Convention, irrespective of their background.

💡Non-Discrimination

Non-Discrimination is a core principle of the Convention, meaning that children should not be treated unfairly based on characteristics such as sex, religion, race, or disability. The video script highlights this principle as a fundamental aspect of the rights of the child.

💡Best Interest of the Child

This principle, central to the Convention, states that in all actions concerning children, their best interests should be a primary consideration. The video script uses this principle to illustrate the prioritization of children's needs in decision-making processes.

💡Life, Survival, and Development

These terms encompass the right of every child to live, survive, and develop to their full potential. The video script discusses the importance of this right, noting that it is a general principle that influences the interpretation of all other rights in the Convention.

💡Views of the Child

This concept refers to the right of children to express their views freely in all matters affecting them, with those views being given due weight in accordance with the child's age and maturity. The video script mentions this as one of the general principles of the Convention.

💡Optional Protocols

Optional Protocols are additional agreements that supplement the main Convention, which States Parties can choose to ratify. The video script mentions three such protocols related to military conflict, the sale of children, and allowing individual children to lodge complaints.

💡UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

This is a body of independent experts that monitors the implementation of the Convention by States Parties. The video script explains that the Committee reviews progress reports and provides recommendations for improvements, playing a crucial role in enforcing the Convention.

💡National Plan for Children

A National Plan for Children is a strategy that the video script suggests states should adopt to ensure meaningful rights protection for children. It involves monitoring budget allocations, conducting impact assessments, and appointing an independent children's Ombudsman.

Highlights

Children are recognized as having human rights, including many rights that adults do.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is a treaty dedicated to children's rights.

The concept of children's rights dates back to the early 20th century, post-First World War.

Eglantine Jeb campaigned for the first international declaration of the right of the child in 1924.

The United Nations adopted an expanded version of the declaration in 1959 during the International Year of the Child.

Poland proposed a convention for children in 1979, leading to a decade of global debate and negotiation.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely supported human rights treaty ever produced.

The United Nations promotes human rights through international agreements based on dignity, equality, and respect.

The Convention sets a global human rights agenda for every person under the age of 18.

Countries that ratified the Convention are called States Parties and are considered Duty bearers.

Rights holders under the Convention include anyone under 18, irrespective of their background.

Parents are also rights holders, entitled to state assistance and guidance in raising their children.

The Convention describes obligations of States Parties to all children within their borders.

The Convention's rights are categorized into civil rights, family environment, health and welfare, education, and special protection measures.

The Convention includes general principles such as non-discrimination and the best interest of the child.

Three optional protocols related to military conflict, child sale, and individual complaints have been added to the Convention.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child monitors the implementation of the Convention through progress reports.

States are required to incorporate the Convention's obligations into local laws and have a national plan for children.

Raising awareness and regular training for adults and children are crucial for respecting children's rights.

The Convention ensures that children's rights are upheld through accountability and international standards.

Full implementation of the Convention is essential for ensuring equality, dignity, and respect for every child.

Transcripts

everyone has human rights children are

of course human too and they enjoy many

of the rights that adults do in

international human rights treaties what

many people don't know is that there's

also a treaty that's dedicated just to

children the UN Convention on the Rights

of the Child we'll take a closer look at

the convention later but it's important

to understand that the idea that

children should have rights dates much

farther back there's been a

long-standing focus on protecting

vulnerable children as a charitable

response to suffering however at the

start of the 20th century some activists

started promoting the idea that children

should have rights in the aftermath of

the First World War

eglantine Jeb and others campaigned for

the first international declaration of

the right of the child

in 1924 an expanded version of this was

adopted by the United Nations in 1959

during the International Year of the

child in 1979 Poland proposed that there

should be a convention for children over

the next decade countries around the

world

debated and negotiated the text of what

would become the most widely supported

human rights treaty the UN ever produced

the United Nations Convention on the

Rights of the Child the United Nations

is an international organization

committed to maintaining peace and

security and to promoting human rights

one of the ways it does this is through

international human rights agreements

based on three core principles of human

rights dignity equality and respect the

United Nations Convention on the Rights

of the Child is one of these and sets a

global human rights agenda for every

person under the age of 18 it was

recognized by the vast majority of UN

member states in 1989 and is now the

most ratified human rights treaty

countries that ratified treaties are

called States Parties in agreeing to be

bound by these treaties they become

known as Duty bearers meaning they have

a duty to uphold the articles of the

Convention in practice this includes

everyone who works for the government

such as police officers lawyers teachers

and social workers those who benefit

from human rights treaties are known as

rights holders so in this case anyone

under the age of 18 is a rights holder

this applies irrespective of their sex

religion race disability and even

whether they're a citizen of the country

or not parents are also rights holders

under the Convention they are entitled

to assistance from the state in raising

their children and they're entitled to

provide their child with advice and

guidance

as the convention is an agreement

between states parties individual

citizens do not have any responsibility

to uphold it however if they work for or

act on behalf of the country's

government then they do for example if

there's a culture of bullying in a

school the school has a responsibility

to take appropriate action so that all

children can learn in a safe environment

the children are not under any

obligations under the Convention but

should of course be guided by staff not

to infringe the rights of the child

being bullied the convention describes

the obligations States Parties have to

all children living within its borders

the convention is wide reaching and

covers many aspects of children's lives

rights are described by articles there

are four important articles that apply

across all other rights in the

convention these general principles are

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 to wait the other

rights can be grouped into five

categories including civil rights and

freedoms family environment and

alternative care health and welfare

education leisure and Culture and

special protection measures that cover

children in emergency situations in

justice systems Child Exploitation

and children belonging to minority

groups these rights are indivisible and

interdependent that means that the

failure to provide for one can affect

the enjoyment of the other

for example if the state fails to ensure

children have an adequate standard of

living children might not be healthy or

able to develop or learn to their full

potential an additional three optional

protocols have also been included in the

convention over the years related to

military conflict the sale of children

and individual complaints by children to

the committee the main way the

convention is enforced is through

ongoing monitoring by a team of

independent experts called the UN

Committee on the Rights of the Child

States Parties must submit a progress

report to the committee every five years

and their assessment is supplemented

with information from other

organizations such as NGOs and

Children's Commissioners children can

also submit evidence to the committee

sometimes in person by attending the

committee meeting the output from the

whole process is a report called the

concluding observations it summarizes

the committee's views on the state of

children's right in each country but it

doesn't stop there

the report also provides implementation

and improvement recommendations to each

individual state which it will review

the next time the country is examined

the convention requires States to put

its obligations into local laws such as

national constitutions and legislation

if this is done the principles can be

enforced in local

the committee also suggests that to

ensure meaningful rights protection is

afforded to every child state should

have a national plan for children

monitor how much of the budget is spent

on children conduct regular impact

assessments throughout every government

department using reliable data about

children's lives and have an independent

children's Ombudsman another important

way to ensure the Convention is properly

implemented is by raising awareness of

its existence countries must make sure

that it is widely known by both adults

and children regular training of both

adults and children contributes to the

creation of societies that respect the

rights of children the Convention on the

Rights of the Child matters more than

many people imagine for one in

recognizing that children are

rightholders

and that states are Duty bearers

governments and all those who work for

them are bound by a set of

internationally ratified human rights

articles that must be adhered to this

means that Duty bearers must consider

and apply the provisions of the

Convention in all aspects of their work

that affect children this means that

they should respect protect and fulfil

all of the obligations to which they

have signed up the convention means that

states can be held accountable for their

actions in relation to children not only

will the Committee on the Rights of the

Child monitor and report on their

progress but children's organizations

and advocates and children themselves

can use the standards to argue change

children's rights ensure their children

are no longer relying on charity or

kindness to me

their needs full implementation of the

Convention on the Rights of the Child

there's a long way to ensuring that each

child's entitlement to equality dignity

and respect in upheld every child

everywhere should enjoy the rights

contained in the United Nations

Convention on the Rights of the Child