Your Rights

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

What is the UNCRC?

In 1989 the UNCRC was created to protect the rights of the child. It is a very specific list of all the things children need. It explains that all children have the same human rights as adults, as well as rights that they need so they can learn, grow, play, develop and reach their full potential.

Key Concepts UNCRC:

• Universal – Everyone under 18 has them
• Inalienable – They can’t be taken away from you
• Indivisible – can’t be separated or placed in an order of importance
• Interdependent – they all depend on each other

What are the General Principles of UNCRC?

The 4 general principles of the UNCRC. Together, these four principles underpin how the convention should be interpreted and put into practice. They are:

• Article 2 – Right to non-discrimination
• Article 3 – Right to have a child’s best interests taken as a primary consideration in all matters affecting them
• Article 6 – Right to life, survival and development
• Article 12 – Right to express views freely and for those views to be taken seriously 

This uses symbols and simple language to explain the first 42 articles of the UNCRC: