Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international treaty that recognizes the human rights of children, defined as persons up to the age of 18 years. The Convention establishes in international law that States Parties must ensure that all children - without discrimination in any form - benefit from special protection measures and assistance; have access to services such as education and health care; can develop their personalities, abilities and talents to the fullest potential; grow up in an environment of happiness, love and understanding; and are informed about and participate in, achieving their rights in an accessible and active manner.

The need to extend particular care to the child has been stated in the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 1924 and in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child adopted by the General Assembly on 20 November 1959 and recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (in particular in articles 23 and 24), in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (in particular in article 10) and in the statutes and relevant instruments of specialized agencies and international organizations concerned with the welfare of children.

The Convention was adopted almost unanimously on 20 November 1989. It came into force in 1990 after the ratification by twenty countries. At the end of 2005 nearly all countries are parties to the convention, except Somalia and the United States.

After the adoption of the Convention UNICEF goodwill ambassador Audrey Hepburn read the text to 500 children. In her audience also UNICEF executive director James P. Grant. (Photo: UNICEF/Ruby Mera 1989)

Link

The Convention website from UNICEF.

Stamp catalogue

Austria 16 April 1993

Belgium 28 September 2002

Netherlands 8 November 1989

Netherlands Antilles 28 October 1998

Tunisia 29 September 1991

Tunisia 21 October 1992

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last revised: 14 January 2009