Rightsforeverychild.

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Rights for every child

The U N Convention on the R ights of the Child states the rights of
all children and young people under the age of 18.
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CARED FOR

All organisations concerned w ith

children, for exam ple, schools and the
health service, should w ork tow ards
w hat is best for each child. Article 3

All children have a right to a birth

certificate. Article 7

Children should not be separated from

their parents unless it is for their
ow n good. For instance, if a parent is
hurting their child or not tak ing
care of them properly. Article 9

U N ICEF/05-1699/J odh Estey

If parents decide to live apart, children
have the right to stay in contact
w ith both parents. Article 9

Fam ilies w ho live in different countries

have the right to get back together and
All over the w orld, children can be separated from live in the sam e place. Article 10
the ones they love best. This m other and son are
reunited after being separated by the 2004 tsunam i.
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PROTECTION

All children should be protected from

violence, abuse and neglect, and
governm ents should protect them .
Article 19

Children should not be allow ed to do

w ork that is dangerous or m ight m ake
them ill, or stops them going to school.
Article 32

U N ICEF/H Q 96-0909/R oger L eM oyne

Children have a right to be protected
from dangerous drugs, and from the
business of m aking or selling them .
Article 33

N obody can do anything to your body

that you do not w ant them to do, and
grow n-ups should protect you. Article 34

N o child should be punished in a w ay

O ver 100 m illion children do dangerous w ork , often that hum iliates or hurts them . Article 37
aw ay from their fam ilies, and dont go to school.
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PARTICIPATING

All children have a right to be able to

give their opinion w hen adults are
m aking a decision that w ill affect them ,
and adults should take it seriously.
Article 12

All children have a right to find out

things, and say w hat they think through
speaking, w riting, draw ing etc. unless it
breaks the rights of others. Article 13

U N ICEF/H Q 04-1027/Giacom o P irozzi

All children have the right to m eet, m ake
friends w ith, and join clubs w ith other
children. Article 15

All children have the right to privacy.

Article 16

All children have the right to inform ation

from TV, radio, new spapers and the
A girl speak s on the U N ICEF-supported Young internet. These m edia should provide
Peoples M edia N etw ork (YP M N ), produced and run inform ation that children can
by children age 1417 in Georgia. understand. Article 17
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FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

All children have the right to think and

believe w hat they w ant, and to practise
their religion. Article 14

Parents should help children learn w hat

is right and w rong. Article 14

Children w ho are refugees or asylum

seekers in another land have the right to
special protection. They have the sam e
rights as children w ho w ere born in that

U N ICEF/H Q 79-0001/Shelley R otner

country. Article 22

Children w ho com e from a m inority

group have the right to learn and use the
language and custom s of their fam ilies.
Also to practise their ow n religion and
use their ow n language. Article 30

Friendship know s no barriers of country, culture,

race or religion.
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EDUCATION AND PLAY

All children have the right to an

education. Article 28

The purpose of education is to develop

every childs personality, talents and
m ental and physical abilities. Article 29

Education should teach children to

respect their parents, their ow n and
other cultures. Article 29

U N ICEF/H Q 07-1352/Giacom o P irozzi

Education should prepare children to live
responsibly and peacefully in a free
society. Article 29

Education should teach children to

respect the natural environm ent.
Article 29

All children have the right to relax and

A R w andan boy holds a U N ICEF schoolbook at his
play, and to join a w ide range of
prim ary school. M ore than 90 m illion children do activities. Article 31
not receive prim ary education.
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SURVIVAL AND DEVELOPMENT

Every child has the right to life. Article 6

Children w ho are disabled, either

m entally or physically, have a right to
special care and education so they can
lead full and independent lives.
Article 23

All children have a right to good health

and good quality health care. All

U N ICEF/H Q 97-1189/Giacom o P irozzi

children should have clean w ater,
nutritious food and a clean environm ent
so they stay healthy. Article 24

All children have the right to a decent

standard of living. The Governm ent
should help fam ilies w ho cannot afford to
provide a decent standard of living for
their children. Article 27

A boy, age 9, drink s w ater from a tap in the village

of Boa M arte, Sao Tom e. M ore than 120 m illion
children do not have safe w ater.
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REHABILITATION* AND CARE

Children under the age of 16 years

should not tak e a direct part in any
conflict. Article 38

Children w ho are affected by an arm ed

conflict should have special protection
and care. Article 38

Children w ho have suffered in any w ay

have a right to get help in a safe place,

U N ICEF/H Q 05-0239/Giacom o P irozzi

to help them recover. Article 39

Sam i, age 6, w atches as his parents unpack a

U N ICEF w ater k it. The fam ily lost their hom e in the * R ehabilitation m eans that things are
2004 Asian tsunam i. done to put life back to norm al.
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Acknowledgements
Illustrations from For Every Child, published by R ed Fox, a division of R andom H ouse Childrens
Book s, 6163 U xbridge R oad, Ealing W 5 5SA. www.kidsatrandomhouse.co.uk

Credits
Cover, P.J .Lynch; p.2, K en W ilson-M ax; p.4, Claudio M uoz; p.6, J ohn Burningham ;
p.8, R abindra & Am rit K .D. K aur Singh; p.10, Satoshi K itam ura; p.12, Peter W eevers;
p.14, Shirley H ughes

For m ore copies of this leaflet call 0844 801 2414, and quote code 32348.
www.unicef.org.uk