The right of the child

Children have certain rights

Just like adults, children have certain rights. On 20 November 1989, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) adopted the International Treaty on the Rights of the Child.

Fundamental rights

The treaty, concerning every human being below the age of eighteen years, states that children are entitled to a number of fundamental rights:

The right to equality, irrespective of race, nationality or religion.
The right to a name, an identity, a nationality and family relations.
The right to freedom of expression, thought, conscience and religion.
The right to education, rest and leisure and to engage in play.
The right to nutrition and housing.
The right to health and health care.
The right to physical, mental, moral and social development (this also applies to mentally or physically disabled children).
The right to be protected from cruel treatment and from physical or sexual abuse.
The right to appropriate legal protection.

To date 182 countries have agreed to ratify the treaty.
Issue: Belgium, 30 September 2002