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About the CRC

A Treaty to defend the rights of children

The recognition given to human rights is relatively recent, beginning with the Charter of the United Nations in 1945 -- and, three years later, with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proclaim that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

The acknowledgement that children have the same human rights as adults is even more recent. For much of human history, children’s needs were viewed from a lens of charity and kindness. But on 20 November 1989, after more than a decade of negotiations, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) -- the first and only human rights instrument to focus specifically on the rights and freedoms of persons under the age of 18.

The CRC, the most widely ratified human rights instrument in the world, outlines in 54 articles the various rights that all children around the world are entitled to. While families are central to the realisation of these rights, the primary responsibility for the protection of these rights is given to governments.

Enshrined in the CRC are four general principles that extend legal recognition to the rights of children.

1. Article 2: Non-discrimination
State parties must ensure that all children within their Jurisdiction enjoy their rights. No child should suffer discrimination. This applies to every child, "irrespective of the child's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status".

2. Article 3: Best Interests of the Child
When governments make decisions that affect children, the best interests of children must be a primary consideration. This principle relates to decisions by courts of law, administrative authorities, legislative bodies and both public and private social-welfare institutions.

3. Article 6: The Right to Life, Survival and Development
This article is related to the right to survival and to development, which governments must ensure "to the maximum extent possible". The term "development" in this context should be interpreted in a broad sense, referring to physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, social and cultural development.

4. Article 12: The Views of the Child
Children have a right to participate in all matters affecting them, and those views should be given due weight "in accordance with the age and maturity of the child". In short, children have the right to be heard and to have their views taken seriously.

Because of the CRC, human rights are fundamental to UNICEF’s work as a development agency. In Article 45 of the CRC, UNICEF is specifically mandated to help foster the implementation of child rights. We do this in tandem with our efforts to promote the human rights of women as well, for neither can be realised without the other.

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Two decades of protecting and shaping futures

Moving forward to make a difference for children

The CRC simplified – a summary of 42 articles

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