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084/03/Saturday 15h04Fact Sheet No.10 (Rev.1), The Rights of the ChildPage 1 sur 12file:///Users/danielcalderon/Desktop/PDF%20PRO%20:%20ONU/DVD%…s/Nr%2010%20Rights%20of%20the%20Child/Children%20fs10%20E.htm
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Fact Sheet No.10 (Rev.1), The Rights of the Child
The World Conference on Human Rights, welcoming the
 
early ratification of the Conventionon the Rights of the Child 
 
by a large number of States . . . urges universal ratification of 
 
theConvention by 1995 and its effective implementation by
 
States parties through the adoptionof all the necessary legislative, administrative and other measures and the allocation to
 
themaximum extent of the available resources . . .
VIENNA DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION(Part 1, para.21), adopted bythe World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna, 25 June 1993, (A/CONF. 157/24 (Part 1),chap. 111).
Contents:
I.A landmark for children and their rightsII.Constructive monitoringIII.Making children's rights a reality
Annexes:
I. Convention on the Rights of the ChildII. States which have ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildIII.General guidelines regarding the form and contents of initial reports to be submitted by Statesparties under article 44, paragraph 1 (a), of the Convention on the rights of the Child
I. A landmark for children and their rights
The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the General Assembly of the UnitedNations by its resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989.
(1)
This was the end of a process which had begun with the preparations for the 1979 InternationalYear of the Child. That year, discussions started on a draft convention submitted by theGovernment of Poland.Children had been discussed before by the international community. Declarations on the rights of the child had been adopted by both the League of Nations (1924) and the United Nations (1959).Also, specific provisions concerning children had been incorporated in a number of human rightsand humanitarian law treaties. Nevertheless, some States argued that there was a need for acomprehensive statement on children's rights which would be binding under international law.That view was influenced by reports of grave injustices suffered by children: high infant mortality,deficient health care, limited opportunities for basic education. There were also alarming accounts
 
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of children being abused and exploited as prostitutes or in harmful jobs, of children in prison or inother difficult circumstances, and of children as refugees and victims of armed conflict.The drafting of the Convention took place in a working group set up by the United NationsCommission on Human Rights. Government delegates formed the core of the drafting group, butrepresentatives of United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, including the Office of theUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Labour Organization(ILO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO),as well as a number of non-governmental organizations, took part in the deliberations. The originaldraft submitted by the Polish Government was extensively amended and expanded through the longdiscussions.The unanimous adoption of the Convention by the General Assembly paved the way for the nextstage: ratifications by States and the setting up of a monitoring committee. Within less than a year,by September 1990, 20 States had legally endorsed the Convention, which thereby entered intoforce.In the same month, the World Summit for Children was held in New York on the initiative of UNICEF and six States (Canada, Egypt, Mali, Mexico, Pakistan and Sweden). The Summitencouraged all States to ratify the Convention. By the end of 1990, 57 had done so, therebybecoming States parties. In 1993, the World Conference on Human Rights held at Vienna declaredthat the goal was universal ratification by the end of 1995. By 31 December 1995, no less than 185countries had indeed ratified the Convention. This number is unprecedented in the field of humanrights.
(2)
Universal and forward-looking principles
The Convention on the Rights of the Child has the same meaning for people In all parts of theworld. While laying down common standards, the Convention takes into account the differentcultural, social, economic and political realities of individual States so that each State may seek itsown means to implement the rights common to all.There are four general principles enshrined in the Convention. These are meant to help with theinterpretation of the Convention as a whole and thereby guide national programmes of implementation. The four principles are formulated, in particular, in articles 2, 3, 6 and 12.
.
 
 Non-discrimination (art. 2):
States parties must ensure that all children within their Jurisdictionenjoy their rights. No child should suffer discrimination. This applies to every child,
"irrespectiveof the child's
 
or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language,
 
religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin,
 
 property, disability, birth or otherstatus".
The essential message is equality of opportunity. Girls should be given the same opportunities asboys. Refugee children, children of foreign origin, children of indigenous or minority groupsshould have the same rights as all others. Children with disabilities should be given the sameopportunity to enjoy an adequate standard of living.
.
 
 Best interests of the child (art. 3):
When the authorities of a State take decisions which affectchildren, the best interests of children must be a primary consideration. This principle relates todecisions by courts of law, administrative authorities, legislative bodies and both public and privatesocial-welfare institutions. This is, of course, a fundamental message of the Convention, theimplementation of which is a major challenge.
.
 
The right to life, survival and development (art. 6):
The right-to-life article includes formulationsabout the right to survival and to development, which should be ensured
"to the maximum extent 
 
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 possible". The
term "development" in this context should be interpreted in a broad sense, adding aqualitative dimension: not only physical health is intended, but also mental, emotional, cognitive,social and cultural development.
.
 
The views of the child (art 12):
Children should be free to have opinions in all matters affectingthem, and those views should be given due weight
"in accordance with the age and maturity of thechild".
The underlying idea is that children have the right to be heard and to have their views takenseriously, including in any judicial or administrative proceedings affecting them.
 Highlights of the Convention
-Every child has the inherent right to life, and States shall ensure to the maximum child survivaland development.-Every child has the right to a name and nationality from birth.- Children shall not be separated from their parents, except by competent authorities for their well-being.-States shall facilitate reunification of families by permitting travel into, or out of, their territories.-Parents have the primary responsibility for a child's upbringing, but States shall provide them withappropriate assistance and develop child-care institutions.-States shall protect children from physical or mental harm and neglect, including sexual abuse orexploitation.-States shall provide parentless children with suitable alternative care. The adoption process shallbe carefully regulated and international agreements should be sought to provide safeguards andassure legal validity if and when adoptive parents intend to move a child from his or her country of birth.-Disabled children shall have the right to special treatment, education and care.-Children are entitled to the highest attainable standard of health. States shall ensure that healthcare is provided to all children, placing emphasis on preventive measures, health education andreduction of infant mortality.-Primary education shall be free and compulsory. Discipline in schools shall respect the child'sdignity. Education should prepare the child for life in a spirit of understanding, peace andtolerance.-Children shall have time to rest and play and equal opportunities for cultural and artistic activities.-States shall protect children from economic exploitation and from work that may interfere withtheir education or be harmful to their health or well-being.-States shall protect children from the illegal use of drugs and involvement in drug production ortrafficking.-All efforts shall be made to eliminate the abduction and trafficking of children.-Capital punishment or life imprisonment shall not be imposed for crimes committed before theage of 18.-Children in detention shall be separated from adults; they must not be tortured or suffer cruel ordegrading treatment.
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