The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Children’s Rights In and Through Education: Learning to Live Together

Unit 2: Human and Children's Rights:

International Declarations and Historical Perspectives

Things to Consider: What is a human right?

Who is considered a child?

What rights should children have?

Do children all over the world have their rights protected?

Who makes international laws? Who enforces them?

Have you ever heard of the CRC?

CRC – Convention for the CRC – Convention for the Rights of the ChildRights of the Child

Background: Convention for Background: Convention for the Rights of the Childthe Rights of the Child

Children’s rights are violated throughout the world every day…– Between 15 and 20 million children are working as slaves

– An estimated 2 million children worldwide are sexually

exploited every year

– 300,000 children around the world are actively

participating in more than 20 armed conflicts

Background: Convention for Background: Convention for the Rights of the Childthe Rights of the Child

Children’s rights are violated throughout the world

every day…

– An estimated 25 million children and adolescents are

uprooted from their homes; they make up nearly half of

the refugee population worldwide

– There are an estimated 100 million children living on the

streets

The Convention on the The Convention on the Rights of the ChildRights of the Child

Recognizes each one of these practices as a violation of

human rights

Obliges each government to work toward eliminating

these practices within their own nation and throughout

the world.

Convention Convention

A convention: A specific type of international law

An agreement or contract among nations

Created within an international organization:

- The United Nations

Participating Countries need to: Sign

Ratify

Monitor and Enforce the treaty

Understanding the Understanding the Convention Convention

on the Rights of the Childon the Rights of the Child

The CRC is a treaty that lays out the rights of children and the

standards to which all governments must aspire in order to

promote these rights.

Foundations of the Foundations of the Convention Convention

on the Rights of the Child on the Rights of the Child The best interests of the child are always the primary

consideration.

A child should be protected against all forms of discrimination and punishment.

A child has the right to survival and development.

A child should be protected from abuse and neglect.

A child has the right to:– Education

– Housing

– Healthcare

– All forms of mental and physical well-being

Protections under Protections under Conventions Conventions

of the Rights of the Childof the Rights of the Child

Child Labor

Drug Abuse

Sexual Exploitation

Sale, Trafficking and Abduction

Torture and Deprivation of Liberty

Armed Conflicts

Enforcing the Convention on Enforcing the Convention on the Rights of the Child the Rights of the Child

The Process of Enforcement Involves:

Countries signing the CRC.

Countries ratifying the CRC.

Wide Dissemination of Rights Information

Assessment

International collaboration in implementation of

Children’s Rights

Discussing the Convention Discussing the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Rights of the Child

What rights does the CRC provide children?

Are there any rights that you think should be added to the

CRC?

If so many countries have signed the CRC, why are

children’s rights still being violated?

If you were in the United Nations, what would be your most

important goal for children’s rights?

Resources Resources

Full Text of the CRCwww.unicef.org/crc/fulltext.htm

UNICEFwww.unicef.org

UN High Commission on Human Rightswww.unhcr.org

Activities

Theoretical Material Theoretical Material Required Readings:

1. Mama, R. S. (2010). Needs, rights, and the human family: The practicality of the

Convention on the Rights of the Child. Child Welfare, 89 (5), 177-189.

2. Melton, G. B. (1991). Preserving the dignity of children around the world: The U.N.

Convention on the Rights of the Child. Child Abuse & Neglect, 15 (4), 343-350.

Recommended Readings: 1. Hart, S. N, Lee, Y., & Wernham, M. (2012). A new age for child protection - General

Comment 13: Why it is important, how it was constructed, and what it intends? Child

Abuse & Neglect, 35 (12), 970-978.

2. Svevo-Cianci, K. A., Herczog, M., Krappmann, L., & Cook, P. (2011). The new UN

CRC General Comment 13: "The right of the child to freedom from all forms of violence"

- changing how the world conceptualizes child protection. Child Abuse & Neglect, 35

(12),

979-989.