Gulf
Montessori Participation in International Campaigns for
Children
Defending
Children's Rights
Convention
on the Rights of the Child
The
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the most widely ratified
human rights treaty in history.
Most
member nation states (countries) of the United Nations have ratified
it, either partly or completely. The United Nations General Assembly
agreed to adopt the Convention into international law on November 20,
1989; it came into force in September 1990, after it was ratified by
the required number of nations.
According
to UNICEF, the Convention has been ratified by 191 countries. Only
Somalia and the United States have not ratified the CRC. Somalia is
currently unable to proceed to ratification as it has no recognized
government.
The
Convention generally defines a child as any person under the age of 18
years, unless an earlier age of majority is recognised by a country's
law.
• Every child has
the inherent right to life, and States shall ensure to the maximum
child survival and 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 with appropriate assistance and develop
child-care institutions.
• States shall
protect children from physical or mental harm and neglect, including
sexual abuse or exploitation.
•
States shall provide parentless children with suitable alternative
care. The adoption process shall be carefully regulated and
international agreements should be sought to provide safeguards and
assure 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 health care is provided to all children,
placing emphasis on preventive measures, health education and reduction
of infant mortality.
•
Primary education shall be free and compulsory. Discipline in schools
shall respect the child's dignity. Education should prepare the child
for life in a spirit of understanding, peace and tolerance.
• 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 with their 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 or trafficking.
• 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 the age of 18.
• Children in
detention shall be separated from adults; they must not be tortured or
suffer cruel or degrading treatment.
• No child under 15
shall take any part in hostilities; children exposed to armed conflict
shall receive special protection.
• Children of
minority and indigenous populations shall freely enjoy their own
culture, religion and language.
•
Children who have suffered mistreatment, neglect or exploitation shall
receive appropriate treatment or training for recovery and
rehabilitation.
•
Children involved in infringements of the penal law shall be treated in
a way that promotes their sense of dignity and worth and aims at
reintegrating them into society.
• States shall make
the rights set out in the Convention widely known to both adults and
children.
Make Poverty History
Campaign