The Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted by the UN's General Assembly in 1989 and entered into force in 1990. This Convention applies to human beings below the age of eighteen. Its provisions include:

• the obligation for states to ensure that children are not discriminated against or punished on the basis of the status, activities, opinions or beliefs of their parents, guardians or family members (Article 2),
• the obligation for states to act in the best interests of the child in all actions concerning children (Article 3),
• the obligation for states to recognize that every child has the right to life (Article 6),
• the right of the child to freedom of expression (Articles 12 and 13),
• the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and to freedom of association and peaceful assembly (Articles 14 and 15),
• the right of the child to health care and to education (Articles 24 and 28).

As of December 2002 the Convention had 191 ratifications. The Committee on the Rights of the Child is the UN body reponsible for overseeing the implementation of the provisions of CRC by ratifying states. These states are required to submit periodic reports to the Committee.