[child-rights] Children's rights treaty celebrates sixteenth birthday

***Read more about Universal Children's Day, 20 November:
{http://www.hrea.org/feature-events/child-rights-day.php }

 
NEW YORK, USA, 18 November 2005 – The first international agreement to
recognize that all children have the same rights as adults has reached its
sixteenth year – with few of the growing pains of adolescence.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted by the United
Nations General Assembly in 1989. It is the most extensively agreed-upon
treaty in international history. Only two countries – the United States of
America and Somalia – have failed to ratify it, although both countries
have signalled their intention to do so by formally signing the
Convention.

“What the Convention really means is that children are human beings, and
as human beings they have human rights. The CRC explains that a child
should be considered as a person with rights, but is also a person who
needs protection,” said Nadine Perrault, UNICEF Child Rights Programme
Officer.

At the very least, the Convention says that all children everywhere have
the right to live and be protected from harm. But it also articulates
their social, familial and cultural rights. It sets benchmark standards in
health care, education and in legal, civil and social services, and says
that the participating states are obliged to develop all policies in the
best interests of the child. The Committee on the Rights of the Child
monitors how each country is progressing towards these standards.

“In every country in the world there have been changes,” said Ms.
Perrault, “whether it’s adopting social policy or looking at the way
governments are establishing their budgets –they’re considering what the
impact will be on children’s rights. A lot has changed in terms of
legislation. A lot of countries have taken legislative measures to change
the way people see children. They used to see children as an object of
charity. Now they have to think in the best interests of every child.”

Indigenous children are specifically recognized by the Convention – and it
is the only international treaty to do so. “The rights of indigenous
children are at the front of the agenda,” said Ms. Perrault.

Since its adoption the Convention has adopted two Optional Protocols which
give specific emphasis to protecting children from trafficking,
prostitution and pornography, and during times of armed conflict.

More broadly, as the Convention moves through its teenage years it will
continue to improve jurisprudence on children’s rights. “Now we are truly
thinking about the means to implement child rights at country level, at
the level of the community and within the family,” said Ms. Perrault.

UNICEF Press release



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