What Are Child Rights?
All children are born with fundamental freedoms and inherent rights. These are the same human rights that adults enjoy but children also have the right to special consideration because of their vulnerability to exploitation and abuse.
These rights are outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), an international human rights treaty made up of 54 articles, which describe how adults and governments should work together to make sure all children are able to fulfil their rights.
The CRC is the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty in history. It sets into international law that governments are responsible to uphold and respect the rights of children, and to implement policies that support their fulfilment.
The CRC changed the way children are viewed and treated – as human beings with a distinct set of rights instead of as passive objects of care and charity.
Child Rights Reporting
To ensure governments are upholding the rights of their children, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child periodically reviews countries that have ratified the CRC and its Optional Protocols.
Child Rights in Australia
Australia is a strong place to grow up for many children. Yet for some, their rights are not fully realised.
The Australian Child Rights Taskforce advocates for the full implementation of the CRC in Australia so that every child, no matter their circumstances, can be safe, reach their full potential, participate in decisions that affect them, and have their rights respected.
