1. Rights of the Child
1
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2. Historical Perspective
on Rights of Children
• 1923 - League of Nations
Declaration of the Rights of the Child
• 1959 - United Nations
Declaration of the Rights of the Child
• 1978 - Working Group to Draft Convention
• 1989 - CRC Adopted by General Assembly
on November 11
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3. Status of CRC
• Came Into Effect 2 September 1990
• Almost Universal Ratification
• Only 2 Countries Not States Parties
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4. CRC Framework
• Includes Civil & Political as well as
Economic, Social & Cultural Rights
• CRC Applicable at All Times to All Children
in All Situations
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5. CRC Has Four Sections
• Preamble
• Part I - substantive articles
• Part II - procedures to monitor compliance
• Part III - process for signature, ratification,
accession and reservations
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6. General Measures of Implementation
• Review Reservations
• Bring National Legislation into Conformity
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7. Definition of a Child
• Below Age 18
• No Minimum Age
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8. Civil Rights and Freedoms
• Name and Nationality (Article 7)
• Freedom of Expression
& Peaceful Assembly (Articles 13-17)
• Right Not to be Subjected to Torture
(Article 37 (a))
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9. Family Environment
• Parental Guidance and Responsibility
(Articles 5, 9, 10, 18 & 27)
• Illicit Transfer and Non-Return (Article 11)
• Unaccompanied Minors and Adoption
(Articles 21 & 25)
• Psychological Recovery and Reintegration
(Article 39)
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10. Basic Health
• Health (Article 24)
• Children with Disabilities (Article 23)
• Standard of Living (Articles 18 & 27)
• Facilities for Treatment and Rehabilitation
(Article 39)
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11. Education and Leisure
• Education, Including Vocational Training
and Guidance (Article 28)
• Education Child-Friendly (Article 29)
• Leisure and Culture Provided (Article 31)
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12. Special Protection
• Refugee Children and Children
in Emergencies (Articles 8, 22 & 38)
• Juvenile Justice (Articles 37 & 40)
• Protection From Exploitation (Articles 32 to 36)
• Physical and Psychological Recovery,
Social Reintegration (Article 39)
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13. Foundation Principles
• Non-Discrimination (Article 2)
• Best Interests of the Child (Article 3)
• Life, Survival and Development (Article 6)
• Respect for the Views of the Child (Article 12)
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14. Non-Discrimination
All children have the same right to develop
their potential regardless of race, colour,
gender, caste, language, opinion, origin,
disability, birth or any other characteristic.
Some children need more attention than
others or required special care to ensure
equality of opportunity.
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15. Best Interests
• The Best Interests of the Child to be a
Primary Consideration in “All Actions
Concurring (Concerning) Children”
• Supports a Child-Centered Approach
In Actions and Decisions
• Mediating Principle to Resolve
Confusion Between Different Rights
• Base for Evaluating Laws and Practices
of States Parties
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16. Right to Life, Survival
and Development
• State Must Take Positive Action
• Access to Basic Services
• Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Moral
and Social Development
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17. Respect for the Views of the Child
• Child’s Views to be Heard, Respected and
Taken Into Account
• “All Matters Affecting” the Child
• Weight Given in Accordance with Age
and Maturity
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18. Committee on the Rights of the Child
• Article 43
• 10 Independent Experts in the Field of
Children’s Rights
• Receives States Parties’ Reports (Article 44)
• Seeks Information and Input From NGOs
and International Organizations (UNICEF)
(Article 45)
• “Concluding Observations” Include
Recommendations
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19. Complimentarity of
CRC & CEDAW
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20. Women’s Rights Are Human Rights
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(Articles 2 & 16)
• Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (Article 3)
• Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights (Article 3)
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21. Special Attention to Women’s Rights
• Commission on the Status of Women, 1946
• Convention on the Political Rights of
Women, 1952
• Convention on the Nationality of Married
Women, 1957
• Convention on Consent to Marriage,
Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration
of Marriages, 1962
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22. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
• Adopted by General Assembly,
18 December 1979
• Entered into Force on 3 September 1981
• Elimination of Discrimination Against
Women in Political, Social and
Economic Life
• Declaration on the Elimination Violence
Against Women, 1993 and Special
Rapporteur, 1994
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23. CRC and CEDAW (I)
• Based on UDHR, CCPR and CESCR
• Prevent Gender-based Discrimination
• Active Role for States
• Importance of Family
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24. CRC and CEDAW
• Health and Nutrition
• Education and Literacy
• Protection From Violence and Sexual
Abuse and Trafficking
• Participation Rights
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