Education and Child Matters

I AM L.I.P

I am a Litigant In Person

The United Nations Convention On The Rights Of A Child

 

PLEASE NOTE THE UNCRC AGREEMENT CAME INTO FORCE IN THE UK IN 1992 THEREFORE THESE RIGHTS APPLY TO ALL UK CHILDREN

WHAT IS THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF A CHILD (UNCRC)?

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child is an international human rights agreement that details the cultural, social, civil, political, and economic rights of a child. These rights apply to all UK children.

The agreement applies to every child no matter what continent they are from, their skin colour, culture, race, religion, gender, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, whether disabled or not, their political opinion, nationality, social origin, their abilities, whether they have a parent, a legal guardian or not, and birth status.

It is a legally binding agreement of 54 articles. All the rights are equal and none are more important than the other. This agreement has changed the way children across the world are viewed and treated. 

This agreement was accepted by the United Nations in November 1989.

LINK TO THE UNCRC AGREEMENT

LINK TO THE CHILD FRIENDLY VERSION OF THE UNCRC AGREEMENT.

LINK TO THE UNITED NATIONS UNCRC

ACCORDING TO THE UNCRC WHAT AGE IS A CHILD? 

Article 1 of the United Nations Convention For The Rights Of A Child (UNCRC) states that anyone under the age of 18 years is considered a child. 

ACCORDING TO THE UNCRC WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF A CHILD?

According to the UNCRC the fundamental rights of a child are:

  1. To be protected from abuse and violence.
  2. To NOT be neglected.
  3. To be given an education so they can fulfil their maximum potential.
  4. To life.
  5. To survival
  6. To develop.
  7. To be listened to.
  8. To be able to voice their opinions. 
  9. To have freedom of expression.
  10. To be heard.
  11. To have their best interests always taken into account in all decisions and actions that concern them, both in private or public.
  12. The right to a name and nationality.
  13. To access information about themselves and share it as the child wants.
  14. To be raised by their parents,
  15. To have a relationship with their parents. 

Please take a look at the UNCRC agreements for all of the fundamental rights of a child.

LINK TO THE UNCRC AGREEMENT.

WHAT ARE GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE WORLD REQUIRED TO DO?

The UNCRC requires world governments to meet their country’s children’s fundamental needs which are listed above. They are required to do this by international law. 

Governments are also asked (but it is not mandatory) not to force children under 18 years of age into the armed forces. This optional protocol was added to the UNCRC in the year 2000. Governments can choose if they want to adopt this protocol. 

Governments are also asked (but it is not mandatory) to prevent child slavery, child pornography, and child prostitution. This protocol aims to prevent children being sold for forced labour, organ donation and illegal adoption. This optional protocol was added to the UNCRC in the year 2000. Governments can choose if they want to adopt this protocol. 

The United Nations ask all governments to increase their spending on children services, set up an independent government department for children’s rights and make sure child laws comply with the UNCRC.

WHAT DOES THE UNCRC SAY ABOUT WHETHER A CHILD CAN COMPLAIN TO THEM?

A child can complain directly to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child if their rights have been violated and they are not happy with the outcome of their own country’s legal system. This optional protocol was added to the UNCRC in the year 2011. Governments can choose if they want to adopt this protocol. 

HOW MANY COUNTRIES HAVE SIGNED UP TO THIS AGREEMENT?

196 countries across the world have signed up to the UNCRC agreement. 

WHO MONITORS WHETHER A COUNTRY’S GOVERNMENT IS IMPLEMENTING THIS AGREEMENT?

The United Nations Committee of the Rights of the Child do. 

WHEN AND WHO WROTE THE FIRST EVER DECLARATION ON CHILD RIGHTS?

The first ever declaration on human rights was written in 1923 by Eglantyne Jebb. Eglantyne Jebb was the founder of ‘Save the Children’.

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION OF SAVE THE CHILDREN AND THE UNCRC?

Under article 45a the United Nations have given ‘Save the Children’, a non governmental organisation (a NGO) a role in the implementation of the UNCRC agreement. 

WHEN DID THE UNCRC AGREEMENT COME INTO FORCE IN THE UK?

The UNCRC came into force in the UK in 1992.