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Spotlight: 35 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
This year, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) marks its 35th anniversary, and we are celebrating this historic treat — ratified by 196 countries — that has transformed the lives of children worldwide.
The CRC has shaped the way children are treated around the world, including in Europe and Central Asia. It recognizes children as human beings and individuals with their own rights and highlights that childhood is separate from adulthood and lasts until 18; it is a special, protected time in which children must be allowed to grow, learn, play, develop, and flourish with dignity.
This anniversary, we celebrate these achievements and reaffirm our commitment to the world's children, as not every child has yet to enjoy a full childhood. It is up to our generation to demand that leaders from government, business, and communities fulfill their commitments and take action for child rights now, once and for all.