United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC]

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Mar 7, 2023, 13:14

In the United Nations General Assembly in 1989, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC] was adopted. The Convention defines guidelines to create a better world for children (under 18).

It includes the Right to Education, the Right to Protection from Mental or Physical Abuse, Protection from Rape or Sexual Exploitation, the Right to Rest and Leisure, and other essential rights for children.

Today, we are slowly moving towards taking concrete steps to help protect children's rights, mainly due to the awareness created globally about several issues facing this young age group. In this article, we will look at what the UNCRC does and its objectives:

What is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC]?

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC] is an international agreement on childhood, adopted in 1989.

UNCRC is a human rights agreement that sets every child's economic, social, health, and cultural rights. The Convention mandates that every child be free to grow, learn, develop, play, and succeed with integrity and dignity.

UNCRC has proven to be the most widely approved human rights treaty in history. It has helped the governments of many countries change and adapt their policies and laws and make investments so that more children get the best healthcare, proper nourishment, and nutrition for their development.

Also, it had passed several amendments to protect children from any form of violence and exploitation.

Objectives of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC]

The purpose of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC] is to protect the right of all the children in the world.

Accordingly, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC] convention established four principles that must control the implementation of the rights it advocates:

  • Right to survival, life, and development.
  • Respect for the views and ideas of the children.
  • Right to life, development, survival, education and sanitization.
  • Right to non-discrimination

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United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC] Program

  • Right to protection from neglect, abuse, or violence.
  • Right to good quality education will eventually prepare them for good jobs and business opportunities.
  • Right to express opinions and views to be heard.
  • Right to become productive and become engaged citizens.
  • Right to non-discrimination.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC] - India and CRC

On 11 December 1992, India ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child committing to a range of measures that have helped children realize their rights. India agreed to principles, all articles except for some reservations on problems related to child labour.

Although there is a law in India that children below the age of 18 are not allowed to work, the practice of child labour is prevalent on a large scale.

In 1993, the government passed laws to prohibit dangerous work that could harm the child's mental, spiritual, moral, and social development under 18 years.

The government passed the law to prohibit child labour under 14 (Child Labour Prohibition & Regulation Amendment Act) only in 2016.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC] has taken several key decisions that are welcomed and adopted by countries globally. The UN and local governments have been working closely to help facilitate a better world for children ever since the founding of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 1946, It is a step in the right direction.

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FAQs on United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC]

Q1. What is the purpose of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC]?

The purpose of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC] is to protect the right of all the children in the world. Accordingly, the UNCRC convention established four principles that must control the implementation of the rights it advocates.

  • Right to survival, life, and development.
  • Respect for the views and ideas of the children.
  • Right to life, development, survival, education, and sanitization.

Q2. Is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC] legally binding?

Yes, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC] is a legally-binding international agreement setting out every child's civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, regardless of race, religion, or abilities.

Q3. Which countries have signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC]?

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC] is a ratified human rights treaty signed by 194 countries. The only countries that have not ratified this treaty are Somalia, South Sudan and the United States.

Q.4. What are the four principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC]?

The four principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC] include:

  • Non-Discrimination
  • Best interests of the child Children
  • The right to survival and development
  • The views of the child