AbdulRehman Foundation

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is an international treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. The CRC is considered one of the most widely ratified human rights treaties in history, with almost every country in the world having ratified it.

The CRC is a comprehensive framework for promoting and protecting the rights of children. It recognizes that children have the same human rights as adults and that they need special protection and care to ensure their well-being and development.

Key provisions of the CRC include:

1. Non-discrimination: The convention requires states to ensure that all children enjoy their rights without discrimination of any kind, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or other status.
2. Best interests of the child: The CRC places the best interests of the child as a primary consideration in all decisions and actions affecting children.
3. Right to life, survival, and development: The convention recognizes every child’s inherent right to life, survival, and development to the fullest extent possible.
4. Participation: The CRC recognizes children’s right to express their views freely and to participate in decisions affecting their lives.
5. Protection from violence, abuse, and exploitation: The convention requires states to protect children from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
6. Health and education: The CRC recognizes the right of every child to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health and to education.
7. Child refugees and migrants: The convention recognizes the rights of refugee and migrant children, including the right to protection and care.

The CRC establishes a monitoring body known as the Committee on the Rights of the Child. States that have ratified the CRC are obligated to submit regular reports to the committee on their progress in implementing the convention. The committee reviews these reports, provides guidance, and makes recommendations to help states fulfill their obligations under the CRC.

The CRC has been instrumental in promoting and protecting children’s rights worldwide. It has provided a framework for legislation, policy development, and advocacy to address the challenges facing children, including child poverty, child labor, child marriage, and access to education and healthcare. The CRC has helped to increase awareness of the importance of protecting and promoting children’s rights and has contributed to the development of child-friendly policies and programs.