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Celebrating 30 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of the Child protects the right of all children, everywhere, to be free from discrimination, violence and neglect. It means that, for example:

  • children need to be treated with dignity and respect;
  • that they should be cared for, develop and be part of their communities;
  • that they have a right to an education, to express their own opinions and to participate in decisions that concern them;
  • and that they have the right to be protected against all violence and discrimination, wherever they live, regardless of their ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.

The Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 November, 1989 and so it is more than 30 years old!

The Committee on the Rights of the Child, is the body in charge of monitoring States compliance with the provisions of the Convention. In 2019, they encouraged States parties to renew their commitment to the Convention by pledging to take one specific and measurable action for the promotion, protection and realisation of the rights of the child.

Click here to see the pledges made by countries to the Committee on their commitments with respect to children’s rights, as well as national initiatives, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Convention.