Children's rights

Facts Background Australia's response The global agenda Facts Universal Children's Day, 24 October, focuses on the rights of children around the world. Around 11 million children die each year from largely preventable diseases caused by lack of clean water and inadequate health care. Through improved access to clean water, food and immunisation, the lives of many children are being saved. More than 110 million primary school age children worldwide are not enrolled in school. Most of these are girls. Millions more children are enrolled in schools now than at any time in history. An estimated 250 million children aged from five to 14 are working around the world. Close to 2 million children have been killed in armed conflicts in the past decade. Nearly all countries in the world have signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and committed themselves to promoting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of children. Source: based on http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/ Background Rights Human rights are fundamental to an individual's existence, they are not luxuries. Everybody is entitled to have their human rights respected. Human rights aim to protect all people and provide for their full development. With rights come responsibilities to ensure that we do not infringe on the rights of others. Convention on the Rights of the Child History There are many international legal documents outlining human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, agreed to unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948, sets out the basic rights and freedoms of all people. Children have the right to special protection because of their defencelessness against mistreatment. The first United Nations statement devoted exclusively to the rights of children was the Declaration on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1959. This was a moral rather than a legally binding document. In 1989 the legally binding Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations. In 54 articles the Convention incorporates the whole spectrum of human rights - civil, political, economic, social and cultural - and sets out the specific ways these should be ensured for children and young people. In May 2000, two Optional Protocols, one on the involvement of children in armed conflict and a second on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, were adopted to strengthen the provisions of the Convention in those areas. The full text is available at: http://www.unicef.org/crc/index.htm Guiding principles The principles governing the Convention on the Rights of the Child include: Universality and non-discrimination All children regardless of race, colour, sex, disability, language, religion, political or other opinion, or national or social origin should have access to the rights outlined. Best interests of the child Decisions are made with an awareness of their impact on children and recognising the increasing ability of children (under 18 years) to be independent. Indivisibility and interdependence of children's rights The CRC is seen as a total package - all children should have access to all the rights outlined. Accountability An international committee reviews the regular reports that governments submit outlining their progress towards improving the access of children to their rights. Themes Survival All children have the right to life through the provision of basic needs - water, food, shelter and health care. Development All children should be able to grow to their full potential through quality education, leisure and play, cultural activities, access to information, freedom of thought and religion, and freedom from discrimination. Protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation All children should be safeguarded against all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation, and are entitled to live in a safe and caring environment. Children need protection in armed conflict, within the justice system, from situations such as child labour, and from the sale and trafficking of individuals. Special care is necessary for girls, children with a disability and refugees Participation fully in family, cultural and social life All children should have the right to express their views freely on all matters affecting them by taking an active role in their families, communities and nations. This encompasses the freedom to express opinions, to have a say in matters affecting their own lives, to join associations and to assemble peacefully. Children's access to rights After a country signs an international convention, it needs to ensure that its laws and practices are consistent with the provisions of the convention to make the commitment to the document a reality. Governments that have signed the CRC must report every five years to the Committee on the Rights of the Child on what they are doing to provide children with their rights under the Convention. In many countries the lives of children have improved, but many children still do not have all they need to survive and develop fully. The more we know about rights, the more we are able to ensure that everyone has access to them. Australia's response The Australian Government's overseas aid program places a strong emphasis on reducing poverty, achieving sustainable development and improving governance, all of which contribute to improving children's access to rights in developing countries. Examples of programs include: Survival Health - providing of resources, medicines, primary health care and immunisation and training health workers Water - improving water sources and waste disposal to provide safe access to water and prevent disease Food security - assisting communities to produce sufficient food for their needs and earn an income to purchase food they cannot grow Poverty alleviation - assisting people, communities and countries to develop skills to earn an income and protect themselves against exploitation Development Education - building schools, improving the quality of education through teacher training and policy development, and assisting parents to send their children to school Protection Peace building - improving security, training and support of personnel to build a peaceful society, and clearing land mines Gender - preventing the trafficking of women and children Participation Improving governance - developingof independent, ethical legal systems; providing training to develop an accountable public sector and sound economic policies Community development - setting up programs in which all people can be involved and influence the development of their resources. The global agenda

Global Movement for Children URL:  http://www.gmfc.org/ The Global Movement for Children represents people and organisations around the world dedicated to promoting the rights of the child. The movement is about participation, action and accountability. The site includes information about current campaigns and projects. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) URL:  http://www.unicef.org/ The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works for children's rights, survival, development and protection, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This site contains information about countries around the world, including recent statistics. United Nations Special Session on Children URL:  http://www.unicef.org/specialsession/ From 8-10 May 2002, more than 7,000 people participated in the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Children at which the nations of the world committed themselves to a series of goals to improve the situation of children and young people. This website presents what happened at the Special Session on Children, both in the official discussions, the General Assembly debates and adoption of the final outcome document, entitled 'A World Fit for Children', and in the supporting events organised by various actors, governments, the United Nations, UNICEF and other UN agencies, international organisations, civil society organisations and non-government organisations (NGOs). The site also highlights the historical participation of children and adolescents, as well as NGOs.

Children enjoying their lunch at school combining their right to survival and a quality education in Sri Lanka A rugby sports carnival in East London, South Africa provides access to the right of play, education, and health care as young people learn rugby skills, about community participation and HIV prevention. Teenagers learn skills to earn and income and enjoy their rights of protection from economic exploitation in Nepal Millions more children are enrolled in schools now than at any time in history