Appendix A

The Convention on the Rights of the Child

Unofficial summary of Main Provisions

Adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 20 November 1989

Preamble
The states parties to the present convention:
The preamble recalls the basic principles of the United Nations and specific provisions of certain relevant human rights treaties and proclamations. It reaffirms the fact that children, because of their vulnerability need special care and protection and it places special emphasis on the primary caring and protective responsibility of the family. It also reaffirms the need for legal and other protection of the child before and after birth, the importance of respect for the cultural values of the child's community and the vital role of international cooperation in securing children's rights.
Part I: The Articles
Article 1Definition of a Child
A child is a person under 18 (years of age), unless national laws recognize the age of majority earlier.
Article 2Nondiscrimination
All rights apply to all children without exception. It is the State's obligation to protect children from any form of discrimination and to take positive action to promote their rights.
Article 3Best Interests of the Child
All actions concerning the child shall take full account of his or her best interests. The State shall provide the child with adequate care when parents or others charged with that responsibility, fail to do so.
Article 4Implementation of Rights
The state must do all it can to implement the rights contained in the Convention.
Article 5Parental Guidance and the Child's Evolving Capacities.
The state must respect the rights and responsibilities of parents and the extended family to provide guidance for the child which is appropriate to her or his evolving capacities.
Article 6Survival and Development
Every child has the inherent right to life, and the State has an obligation to ensure the child's survival and development.
Article 7Name and Nationality
The child has the right to a name at birth. The child also has the right to acquire a nationality and, as far as possible, to know his or her parents, and be cared for by them.
Article 8Preservation of Identity
The State has an obligation to protect, and if necessary, re-establish basic aspects of the child's identity. This includes name, nationality and family ties.
Article 9Separation From Parents
The child has a right to live with his or her parents unless this is deemed to be incompatible with the child's best interests. The child also has the right to maintain contact with both parents if separated from one or both.
Article 10Family Reunification
Children and their parents have the right to leave any country and to enter their own for purposes of reunion or the maintenance of the child-parent relationship.
Article 11Illicit transfer and Non-Return
The State has an obligation to prevent and remedy the kidnapping or retention of children abroad by a parent or third party.
Article 12The Child's Opinion
The child has the right to express his or her (own) opinion freely and to have that opinion taken into account in any matter or procedure affecting the child.
Article 13Freedom of Expression
The child has the right to express his or her views, obtain information, make ideas or information known, regardless of frontiers.
Article 14Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion
The State shall respect the child's right to freedom of thought, conscience ;and religion, subject to appropriate parental guidance.
Article 15Freedom of Association
Children have a right to meet with others and to join or form associations.
Article 16Protection of Privacy
Children have the right to protection from interference with privacy, family, home and correspondence, and from libel or slander.
Article 17Access to Appropriate Information
The State shall ensure the accessibility to children of information and material from a diversity of sources, and it shall encourage the mass media to disseminate information which is of social and cultural benefit to the child, and take steps to protect him or her from harmful materials.
Article 18Parental Responsibilities
Parents have joint primary responsibility for raising the child, and the State shall support them in this. The State shall provide appropriate assistance to parents in child-raising.
Article 19Protection From Abuse and Neglect
The State shall protect the child from all forms of maltreatment by parents or others responsible for the care of the child and establish appropriate social programmes for the prevention of abuse and the treatment of victims.
Article 20Protection of a Child Without Family
The State is obliged to provide special protection for a child deprived of the family environment and to ensure that appropriate alternative family care or institutional placement is available in such cases. Efforts to meet this obligation shall pay due regard to the child's cultural background.
Article 21Adoption
In countries where adoption is recognized and/or allowed, it shall only be carried out in the best interests of the child, and then only with the authorization of competent authorities, and safeguards for the child.
Article 22Refugee children in nations which provide such protection and assistance.
Article 23-Disabled Children
A disabled child has the right to special care, education and training to help him or her enjoy a full and decent life in dignity, and achieve the greatest degree of self-reliance and social integration possible.
Article 24Health and Health Services
The child has a right to the highest standard of health and medical care attainable. States shall place special emphasis on the provision of primary and preventative health care, public health education, and the reduction of infant mortality. They shall encourage international cooperation in this regard and strive to see that no child is deprived of access to effective health services.
Article 25Periodic Review of Placement
A child who is placed by the State for reasons of care, protection or treatment, is entitled to have that placement evaluated regularly.
Article 26Social Security
The child had the right to benefit from social security including social insurance
Article 27Standard of Living
Every child has the right to a standard of living adequate for his or her physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development. Parents have the primary responsibility to ensure that the child has an adequate standard of living. The State's duty is to ensure that this responsibility can be fulfilled, and is. State responsibility can include material assistance to parents and their children.
Article 28Education
The child has a right to education, and the State's duty is to ensure that primary education is free and compulsory, to encourage different forms of secondary education accessible to every child and to make higher education available to all on the basis of capacity. School discipline shall be consistent with the child's rights and dignity. The State shall engage in international cooperation to implement this right.
Article 29Aims of Education
Education shall aim at developing the child's personality, talents, and metal and physical abilities to the fullest extent. Education shall prepare the child for an active adult life in a free society and foster respect for the child's parents, his or her own cultural identity, language and values, and for the cultural background and values of others.
Article 30Children of Minorities or Indigenous Populations
Children of minority communities and indigenous populations have the right to enjoy their own culture and to practice their own religion and language.
Article 31Leisure, Recreation and Cultural Activities
The child has the right to leisure, play and participation in cultural and artistic activities.