The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Children’s Rights In and Through Education: Learning to Live Together Unit 2: Human and Children's Rights: International Declarations and Historical Perspectives

Things to Consider:  What is a human right?  Who is considered a child?  What rights should children have?  Do children all over the world have their rights protected?  Who makes international laws? Who enforces them?  Have you ever heard of the CRC? CRC – Convention for the Rights of the Child

Background: Convention for the Rights of the Child Children’s rights are violated throughout the world every day… –Between 15 and 20 million children are working as slaves –An estimated 2 million children worldwide are sexually exploited every year –300,000 children around the world are actively participating in more than 20 armed conflicts

Background: Convention for the Rights of the Child Children’s rights are violated throughout the world every day… –An estimated 25 million children and adolescents are uprooted from their homes; they make up nearly half of the refugee population worldwide –There are an estimated 100 million children living on the streets

The Convention on the Rights of the Child  Recognizes each one of these practices as a violation of human rights  Obliges each government to work toward eliminating these practices within their own nation and throughout the world.

Convention  A convention:  A specific type of international law  An agreement or contract among nations  Created within an international organization: - The United Nations  Participating Countries need to: Sign Ratify Monitor and Enforce the treaty

Understanding the Convention on the Rights of the Child The CRC is a treaty that lays out the rights of children and the standards to which all governments must aspire in order to promote these rights. 11 March 2013

Foundations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child  The best interests of the child are always the primary consideration.  A child should be protected against all forms of discrimination and punishment.  A child has the right to survival and development.  A child should be protected from abuse and neglect.  A child has the right to: –Education –Housing –Healthcare –All forms of mental and physical well-being

Protections under Conventions of the Rights of the Child  Child Labor  Drug Abuse  Sexual Exploitation  Sale, Trafficking and Abduction  Torture and Deprivation of Liberty  Armed Conflicts

Enforcing the Convention on the Rights of the Child The Process of Enforcement Involves:  Countries signing the CRC.  Countries ratifying the CRC.  Wide Dissemination of Rights Information  Assessment  International collaboration in implementation of Children’s Rights

Discussing the Convention on the Rights of the Child  What rights does the CRC provide children?  Are there any rights that you think should be added to the CRC?  If so many countries have signed the CRC, why are children’s rights still being violated?  If you were in the United Nations, what would be your most important goal for children’s rights?

Resources Resources Full Text of the CRC UNICEF UN High Commission on Human Rights

Activities

Theoretical Material Required Readings: 1. Mama, R. S. (2010). Needs, rights, and the human family: The practicality of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Child Welfare, 89 (5), Melton, G. B. (1991). Preserving the dignity of children around the world: The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. Child Abuse & Neglect, 15 (4), Recommended Readings: 1. Hart, S. N, Lee, Y., & Wernham, M. (2012). A new age for child protection - General Comment 13: Why it is important, how it was constructed, and what it intends? Child Abuse & Neglect, 35 (12), Svevo-Cianci, K. A., Herczog, M., Krappmann, L., & Cook, P. (2011). The new UN CRC General Comment 13: "The right of the child to freedom from all forms of violence" - changing how the world conceptualizes child protection. Child Abuse & Neglect, 35 (12),