• was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1989
• became international law on 2 September 1990
• was agreed by the UK on 16 December 1991
• has not yet been implemented fully in the UK (according to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child)

The three key principles of the Convention are:

• that all rights apply to all children without exception
• that a child's best interests must be of primary consideration
• that children's views must be taken into account

Under Article 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, schools must prepare their pupils for life in a multicultural world.

Under Article 42, governments, local authorities and schools have a duty to inform children and young people (as well as adults) about the rights in the Convention.

The first person to set out a charter of the Rights of the Child, back in 1923, was Eglantyne Jebb, founder of the international charity Save the Children. Save the Children still works worldwide to promote full involvement of children and young people in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.

Website: www.oneworld.org/scf
Phone: 0171 703 5400
Address: 17 Grove Lane, London SE5 8RD

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Each article explains one of your rights under the UN Convention.
1	Everyone under 18 years has all the rights in this convention.
2	You have these rights, whoever you are, whoever your parents are, whatever colour you are, whatever sex you or religion you are, whatever language you speak, whether you have a disability, or if you are rich or poor.
3	Whenever an adult has anything to do with you, he or she should do what is best for you.
6	Everyone should recognise that you have the right to live.
7	You have the right to have a name, and when you are born your name, your parents' names and the date should be written down. You have the right to a nationality, and the right to know and be cared for by your parents.
9	You should have not be separated from your parents unless it is for your own good. For instance, your parents may be may be hurting you or not taking care of you. Also, if your parents decide to live apart, you will have to live with one or the other of them, but you have the right to contact both parents easily.
10	If you and your parents are living in separate countries, you have the right to get back together and live in the same place.
11	You should not be kidnapped, and, if you are, the government should try their hardest to get you back.
12	Whenever adults make a decision that will affect you in any way, you have the right to give your opinion, and the adults have to take that seriously.
13	You have the right to fine out things and say what you think through speaking, writing, making art etc., unless it breaks the rights of others.
14	You have the right to think what you like and be whatever religion you want to be. Your parents should help you learn what is right and wrong.
15	You have the right to meet, make friends with and make clubs with other people, unless it breaks the rights of others.
16	You have the right to a private life. For instance, you can keep a diary that other people are not allowed to see.
17	You have the right to collect information from radios, newspapers, television, books etc., from all around the world. Adults should make sure that you get information you can understand.
18	Both of your parents should be involved in bringing you up and they should do what is best for you.
19	No one should hurt you in any way. Adults should make sure that you are protected from abuse, violence and neglect. Even your parents have no the right to hurt you.
20	If you do not have any parents, or if it is not safe for you to live with your parents, you have the right to special to special and help.
21	If you have to be adopted, adults should make sure that everything is arranged in the way that is best for you.
22	If you are a refugee (meaning you have to leave your own country because it is not sate for you to live there), you have the right to special protection and help.
23	If you are disabled, either mentally or physically, you have the right to special care and education to help you grow up in the way as the other children.
24	You have the right to good health. This means that you should have professional care and medicines when you are sick. Adults should try their hardest to make sure that children do not get sick in the first place by feeding and taking good care of them.
27	You have the right to a good enough "standard of living". This means that parents have the responsibilities to make sure that food, clothes, a place to live, etc. If parents cannot afford this, the government should help.
28	You have a right to education. Primary education must be free and you must go to primary school. You should be able to go to secondary school.
29	The purpose of your education is to develop your personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to the fullest. Education should also prepare you to live responsibly and peacefully, in a free society, understanding the rights of other people, and respecting the environment.
30	If you come from a minority group, you have the right to enjoy your own culture, practise your own religion and use your own language.
31	You have a right to play.
32	You have the right to be protected from working in places or conditions that are likely to damage your health or get in the way of your education. If somebody is making money out of your work, you should be paid fairly.
33	You have the right to be from illegal drugs and from the business of making and selling drugs.
34	You have the right to be protected from sexual abuse. This means that nobody can do anything to your body that you do not want them to do, such as touching you or taking pictures of you or making you sat things that you don't want to say.
35	No one is allowed to kidnap or sell you.
37	Even if you do something wrong, no one is allowed to punish you in a way that humiliates you or hurts you badly. You should never be put in prison except as a last resort, if you are put in prison have the right to special care and regular visits with your family.
38	You have a right to protect in times of war. If you are under fifteen, you should never have to be in an army or take part inn a battle.
39	If you have been hurt or neglected in any way, for instance in a war, you have the right to special care and treatment.
40	You have the right to defend yourself if you have been accused of committing a crime. The police and the lawyers and judges in court should treat you with respect and make sure you understand everything that is going on.
42	All adults and all children should know about this Convention. You have a right to learn about your rights and adults should learn about them too.

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