About the Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of the Child defines the universal basic rights of all persons under 18 years old and what States and adults should do to make sure children enjoy these rights.

When a State ratifies the CRC, it commits to promote, protect, respect and fulfil the rights of all children under its jurisdiction – i.e. who live in a territory controlled by this State. It becomes a State party to the CRC with the responsibility to implement the rights guaranteed in the CRC at national level and to report periodically on such implementation to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Key facts and features of the CRC:

  • Adopted by the UN General Assembly on 2 September 1990.
  • Is the most widely-ratified – i.e. accepted – international human rights treaty with 197 States parties.
  • Covers civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
  • Created the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to monitor how States parties implement its provisions.

[pl_button type=”info” link=”http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CRC.aspx/” target=”_blank”]Read the text of the CRC → [/pl_button]

[pl_button type=”info” link=”http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/Implementation_Handbook_for_the_Convention_on_the_Rights_of_the_Child.pdf” target=”_blank”]Download: UNICEF Implementation Handbook → [/pl_button]

Why engage with the Reporting Cycle?

 

Children’s rights defenders, including children themselves, who engage in the reporting cycle, can:

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Confidentially, raise their concerns and suggestions about the children’s rights situation in their country to a UN body that can make recommendations to their national government
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Use their report and the reporting cycle to increase awareness about children’s rights issues in the media and the general public
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Participate in the improvement of the children’s rights situation in their country
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Establish working relations with new partners at national and international level
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