What are my child's rights?

Everyone under the age of 18 has all the rights in the Convention. 

All children have all these rights, no matter who they are, where they live, what language they speak, what their religion is, what they think, what they look like, if they are a boy or girl, if they have a disability, if they are rich or poor, and no matter who their parents or families are or what their parents or families believe or do. No child should be treated unfairly for any of these reasons.

The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all decisions and actions that affect children. 

Governments must do all they can to make sure every child can enjoy their rights by creating systems and passing laws that promote and protect children’s rights. 

Governments must respect the rights and responsibilities of parents and carers to provide guidance and direction to their child as they grow up, so that they learn to use their rights in the best way. The more children grow, the less guidance they will need. 

Every child has the right to life. Governments must do all they can to ensure that children survive and develop to their full potential. 

Every child has the right to be registered at birth, to have a name and nationality (a country they belong to), and, as far as possible, to know and be cared for by their parents.

Children have the right to their own identity – an official record of who they are which includes their name, nationality and family relations. No one should take this away from them, but if this happens, governments must help children to quickly get their identity back.

Children must not be separated from their parents against their will unless it is in their best interests (for example, if a parent is hurting or neglecting a child). Children whose parents have separated have the right to stay in contact with both parents, unless this could cause them harm. 

If a child lives in a different country from their parents, governments must let the child and parents travel so that they can stay in contact and be together.

Governments must do everything they can to stop children being taken out of their own country illegally by their parents or other relatives, or being prevented from returning home. 

Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. This right applies at all times, for example during immigration proceedings, housing decisions or the child’s day-to-day home life.

Children have the right to share freely with others what they learn, think and feel, by talking, drawing, writing or in any other way unless it harms other people.

Every child has the right to think and believe what they choose and also to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights. Parents can guide children so that as they grow up, they learn to properly use this right.

Every child has the right to meet with other children and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not harm other people. 

Every child has the right to privacy. The law should protect the child’s private, family and home life and reputation (or good name) from any attack.

Children have the right to get information from the Internet, radio, television, newspapers, books and other sources. Adults should make sure the information they are getting is not harmful. Governments should encourage the media to share information from lots of different sources, in languages that all children can understand.

Parents are the main people responsible for bringing up a child. When the child does not have any parents, another adult will have this responsibility and they are called a 'guardian'. Parents and guardians should always consider what is best for that child. Governments should help them. Where a child has both parents, both of them should be responsible for bringing up the child.

Governments must do all they can to ensure that children are protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and bad treatment by their parents or anyone else who looks after them. 

Every child who cannot be looked after by their own family has the right to be looked after properly by people who respect the child’s religion, culture, language and other aspects of their life.

When children are adopted, the most important thing is to do what is best for them. If a child cannot be properly looked after in their own country – for example by living with another family – then they might be adopted in another country.

Children who move from their home country to another country as refugees (because it was not safe for them to stay there) should get help and protection and have the same rights as children born in that country.

Children with disabilities have the right to live a full and decent life with dignity and, as far as possible, independence and to play an active part in the community. Governments must do all they can to support disabled children and their families. 

Every child has the right to the best possible health. Governments must provide good quality health care, clean water, nutritious food, and a clean environment and information on health and wellbeing so that children can stay healthy. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this. 

Every child who has been placed somewhere away from home - for their care, protection or health – should have their situation checked regularly to see if everything is going well and if this is still the best place for the child to be.

Every child has the right to benefit from social security. Governments must provide money or other support to families in need of assistance. 

Every child has the right to a standard of living that is good enough to meet their physical and social needs and support their development. Governments must help families who cannot afford to provide this. 

Every child has the right to an education. Primary education must be free and different forms of secondary education must be available to every child. Children should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level possible. Discipline in schools should respect children’s rights and never use violence. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this. 

Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full. It must encourage the child’s respect for human rights, as well as respect for their parents, their own and other cultures, and the environment. 

Every child has the right to learn and use the language, customs and religion of their family, whether or not these are shared by the majority of the people in the country where they live. 

Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities. 

Governments must protect children from economic exploitation and work that is dangerous or might harm their health, development or education. Governments must set a minimum age for children to work and ensure that work conditions are safe and appropriate. 

Governments must protect children from taking, making, carrying or selling harmful drugs. 

Governments must protect children from all forms of sexual abuse and exploitation.

Governments must protect children from being abducted, sold or moved illegally to a different place in or outside their country to be exploited. 

Governments must protect children from all other forms of exploitation, for example the exploitation of children for political activities, by the media or for medical research. 

Children who are accused of breaking the law should not be killed, tortured, treated cruelly, put in prison forever, or put in prison with adults. Prison should always be the last choice and only for the shortest possible time. Children in prison should have legal help and be able to stay in contact with their family. 

Children have the right to be protected during war. No child under 15 can join the army or take part in war. 

Children have the right to get help if they have been hurt, neglected, treated badly or affected by war, so they can get back their health and dignity. 

Children accused of breaking the law have the right to legal help and fair treatment. There should be lots of solutions to help these children become good members of their communities. Prison should only be the last choice. 

If the laws of a country protect children’s rights better than this Convention, then those laws should be used. 

Governments must actively work to make sure children and adults know about children's rights and the Convention. 

These articles explain how governments and other organisations must work together to make sure all children can enjoy all their rights.