RSS web feeds 
Share 
Print 
Email 
Save United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: The articles
Articles 1-41 of the Convention set out the rights of children and the corresponding obligations of governments to safeguard these rights. Article 42 requires states to publicise the principles and provisions of the convention to children, young people, parents and carers, and everyone working with children and young people.
The Convention covers the following subjects:
- Definition of children as all persons less than 18 years of age, unless the legal age of majority in a country is lower.
- General principles, including the right to life, survival and development, the right to non-discrimination, respect for the views of children and to give consideration to a child's best interests, and the requirement to give primary consideration to the child's best interests in all matters affecting them.
- Civil rights and freedoms, including the right to a name and nationality, freedom of expression, thought and association, access to information and the right not to be subjected to torture.
- Family environment and alternative care, including the right to live with and have contact with both parents, to be reunited with parents if separated from them and to the provision of appropriate alternative care where necessary.
- Basic heath and welfare, including the rights of disabled children, the right to health and health care, social security, child care services and an adequate standard of living.
- Education, leisure and cultural activities, including the right to education and the rights to play, leisure and participation in cultural life and the arts.
- Special protection measures covering the rights of refugee children, those affected by armed conflicts, children in the juvenile justice system, children deprived of their liberty and children suffering economic, sexual or other forms of exploitation.
You can find out more about the articles in the UNICEF summary or by downloading the full text of the Convention, both of which are available below.
Associated documents
UNCRC: Summary
(392.8Kb)
UNCRC: Full articles
(112.4Kb)
Download the contents of this page:
as a Word Document
Last updated on 30/04/2009
