Children’s day

21 August, 2011

UNICEF is governed by the provisions and principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Based on legal systems and cultural traditions, the Convention is composed of a set of rules and obligations accepted by all nations. These basic standards-also called human rights- establish minimum rights and freedoms that governments must meet. They are based on respect for the dignity and worth of every person, regardless of race, color, gender, language, religion, opinions, origins, wealth, birth or ability and therefore apply it to all humans in all countries. With the implementation of these rights, the obligation of governments and individuals is to avoid violating the parallel rights of others. These standards are interdependent and indivisible, we cannot guarantee certain rights at the expense of others.

Since the enactment of the 1989 Convention every legislation has been adapted to the principles enshrined in the Declaration. Although the legislations and the legal system of each country is usually different, almost all the countries have been devoting special measures for their protection, the legislative and even constitutional rights. Among the Rights of the Child are:

1. Children have the right to live.

2. The child has the right to play.

3. The children are entitled to freedom and to share their views with others.

4. The children are entitled to make known their opinions and express their ideas.

5. The children have the right to have a family.

6. The child is entitled to protection during armed conflict.

7. The children have the right to freedom of conscience.

8. The children are entitled to protection against neglect or negligent treatment.

9. The children are entitled to protection against child labor.

10. The children have the right to have adequate information.

11. The child has a right to protection from trafficking and abduction.

12. The child has a right to know and enjoy our culture.

13. The child has a right to protection from landmines.

14. The child has a right to protection from all forms of exploitation.

15. The children deserve to grow up in a family which gives them affection and love.

16. The child has a right to a name and a nationality.

17. The children have the right to food and nutrition.

18. The children are entitled to live in harmony.

19. The children are entitled to the fun.

20. The child has the right to freedom.

21. The children are entitled to world peace.

22. The children are entitled to health.

23. The children have the right not be discriminated by sex, creed, ethnicity or ideology.