INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was set up in March 2007
under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, an Act of Parliament (December
2005).

WHAT ARE THE CHILD RIGHTS?

All people under the age of 18 are entitled to the standards and rights guaranteed by the laws that
govern our country and the international legal instruments we have accepted by ratifying them.

1. Right to free and compulsory elementary education for all children in the 6-14 year age
group.
2. Right to be protected from any hazardous employment till the age of 14 years.
3. Right to be protected from being abused and forced by economic necessity to enter
occupations unsuited to their age or strength.
4. Right to equal opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in
conditions of freedom and dignity and guaranteed protection of childhood and youth
against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment.
5. Right to equality.
6. Right against discrimination.
7. Right to personal liberty and due process of law.
8. Right to being protected from being trafficked and forced into bonded labour.
9. Right of weaker sections of the people to be protected from social injustice and all forms
of exploitation
10. Every child has the right to a name, birth registration and nationality. As far as possible
every child has the right to know and be cared for by his/her parents. The state should
make laws and provisions especially for stateless children.
11. A child has the right to preserve his/her identity including nationality, name and family
relations without unlawful interference.
12. Every child has the right not to be separated from their parents against his/her will unless
it is in his/her best interest. Any legal proceeding of separation shall be attended by all
involved parties including the parents. The right has the right to maintain contact with
his/her parent as long as it's not against his/her best interest. If the state is the cause of
separation than the parents, child or any other family member has the right to know the
whereabouts of the absent member.
13. Every child and family has the right to enter or leave a state at any time they wish as long
as it is in accordance with the laws of each state. If a child is in the different state as the
parents the child has the right to maintain contact with his/her parent as long as it's not
against his/her best interest
14. Children have a right to free expression and this includes right to information and ideas
of all kinds and in any medium.
15. Every child has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
16. Every child has the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly unless the act
is illegal or harmful to others.
17. Children have the right to privacy and the right to be protected by law against such
interference of attacks
18. Children have the right to protection by the state when they temporarily or permanently
deprived of their family environment or if the environment has proven to be harmful for
them.
19. Every child has the right to access health services and attain the highest degree of health.
20. Every child has the right to social security and social insurance.
21. Every child has the right to a standard of living required for his/her development.
22. All children have the right to education.
23. Children of minority communities have the right to practice and adopt the culture,
languages and traditions of their community.
24. Every child has the right to leisure, play and participation in cultural events.
25. Children have the right to be protected from economic exportation or any work that is
harmful to their physical and mental development or considered hazardous or dangerous
work.
26. Every child has the right to be protected from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.
27. Every child has the inherent right to life