United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention on the Rights of the Child
 |
English • français |
|---|
Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by the UN General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989. Entered into force on September 2, 1990.
Relevant Provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Article 2
Right of the child to be protected from discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status; and also from discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions, or beliefs of the child’s parents, legal guardians, or family members.
Article 3
In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities of legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.
Article 12
1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.
2. For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.
Article 13
Freedom of expression.
Article 14
Freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Article 15
Freedom of association and of peaceful assembly.
Article 16
1. No child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honour and reputation.
2. The child has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 37
a) No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. Neither capital punishment nor life imprisonment without possibility of release shall be imposed for offenses committed by persons below eighteen years of age;
b) No child shall be deprived of his liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily. The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time;
c) Every child deprived of liberty shall be treated with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of the human person, and in a manner which takes into account the needs of persons of his or her age. Every child deprived of liberty shall be separated from adults unless it is considered in the child’s best interest not to do so and shall have the right to maintain contact with his or her family through correspondence and visits, save in exceptional circumstances;
d) Every child deprived of his liberty shall have the right to prompt access to legal and other appropriate assistance, as well as the right to challenge the legality of the deprivation of his liberty before a court of other competent, independent and impartial authority, and to a prompt decision on any such action.
Article 40
1. Right of the child alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having infringed the penal law to be treated in manner consistent with the promotion of the child’s sense of dignity and worth, which reinforces the child’s respect for human rights and freedoms of others which takes into account child’s age and desirability of promoting the child’s reintegration and the child’s assuming a constructive role in society.
2. a) No child shall be alleged as, be accused of, or recognized as having infringed the penal law by reason of acts or omissions that were not prohibited by national or international law at the time they were committed,
b) Every child alleged as or accused of having infringed the penal law has at least the following guarantees:
(i) to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law;
(ii) to be informed promptly and directly of the charges against him, and, if appropriate, through his parents or legal guardians, and to have legal or other appropriate assistance in the preparation and presentation of his or her defense;
(iii) to have the matter determined without delay by a competent, independent and impartial authority or judicial body in a fair hearing according to law, in the presence of legal or other appropriate assistance and, unless it is considered not to be in the best interest of the child, in particular, taking into account his age or situation, his parents of legal guardians;
(iv) not to be compelled to give testimony or to confess guilt; to examine or have examined adverse witness and to obtain the participation and examination of witnesses on his or her behalf under conditions of equality;
(v) if considered to have infringed the penal law, to have this decision and any measures imposed in consequence thereof reviewed by a higher competent, independent and impartial authority or judicial body according to law;
(vi) to have the free assistance of an interpreter if the child cannot understand or speak the language used;
(vii) to have his privacy fully respected at all stages of the proceedings.
3. State Parties shall seek to promote the establishment of laws, procedures, authorities and institutions specifically applicable to children alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having infringed the penal law, and, in particular:
a)The establishment of a minimum age below which children shall be presumed not to have the capacity to infringe the penal law;
b)Whenever appropriate and desirable, measures for dealing with such children without resorting to judicial proceedings, providing that human rights and legal safeguards are fully respected.
4. A variety of dispositions, such as care, guidance and supervision orders; counseling; probation; foster care; education and vocational training programmes and other alternatives to institutional care shall be available to ensure that children are dealt with in a manner appropriate to their well-being and proportionate both to their circumstances and the offence.
Status of Signature, Ratification, and Accession to the Convention on the Rights of the Child
| Country | Signature | Ratification/Accession |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 27 September 1990 | 28 March 1994 |
| Albania | 26 January 1990 | 27 February 1992 |
| Algeria | 26 January 1990 | 16 April 1993 |
| Andorra | 2 October 1995 | 2 January 1996 |
| Angola | 14 February 1990 | 5 December 1990 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 12 March 1991 | 5 October 1993 |
| Argentina | 29 June 1990 | 4 December 1990 |
| Armenia | - | 23 June 1993 |
| Australia | 22 August 1990 | 17 December 1990 |
| Austria | 26 August 1990 | 6 August 1992 |
| Azerbaijan | - | 13 August 1992 |
| Bahamas | 30 October 1990 | 20 February 1991 |
| Bahrain | - | 13 February 1992 |
| Bangladesh | 26 January 1990 | 3 August 1990 |
| Barbardos | 19 April 1990 | 9 October 1990 |
| Belarus | 26 January 1990 | 1 October 1990 |
| Belgium | 26 January 1990 | 16 December 1991 |
| Belize | 2 March 1990 | 2 May 1990 |
| Benin | 25 April 1990 | 3 August 1990 |
| Bhutan | 4 June 1990 | 1 August 1990 |
| Bolivia | 8 March 1990 | 26 June 1990 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | - | 1 September 1993 |
| Botswana | - | 14 March 1995 |
| Brazil | 26 January 1990 | 24 September 1990 |
| Brunei Darussalam | - | 27 December 1995 |
| Bulgaria | 31 May 1990 | 3 June 1991 |
| Burkina Faso | 26 January 1990 | 31 August 1990 |
| Burundi | 8 May 1990 | 19 October 1990 |
| Cambodia | - | 15 October 1992 |
| Cameroon | 25 September 1990 | 11 January 1993 |
| Canada | 28 May 1990 | 31 December 1991 |
| Cape Verde | - | 4 June 1992 |
| Central African Republic | 30 July 1990 | 23 April 1992 |
| Chad | 30 September 1990 | 2 October 1990 |
| Chile | 26 January 1990 | 13 August 1990 |
| China | 29 August 1990 | 2 March 1992 |
| Colombia | 26 January 1990 | 28 January 1991 |
| Comoros | 30 September 1990 | 22 June 1993 |
| Congo | - | 14 October 1993 |
| Cook Islands | - | 6 June 1997 |
| Costa Rica | 26 January 1990 | 21 August 1990 |
| Ivory Coast | 26 January 1990 | 4 February 1991 |
| Croatia | - | 12 October 1992 |
| Cuba | 26 January 1990 | 21 August 1991 |
| Cyprus | 5 October 1990 | 7 February 1991 |
| Czech Republic | - | 22 February 1993 |
| Democratic Peaople's Republic of Korea | 23 August 1990 | 21 September 1990 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 20 March 1990 | 27 September 1990 |
| Denmark | 26 January 1990 | 19 July 1991 |
| Djibouti | 30 September 1990 | 6 December 1990 |
| Dominica | 26 January 1990 | 13 March 1991 |
| Dominican Republic | 8 August 1990 | 11 June 1991 |
| Ecuador | 26 January 1990 | 23 March 1990 |
| Egypt | 5 February 1990 | 6 July 1990 |
| El Salvador | 26 January 1990 | 10 July 1990 |
| Equatorial Guinea | - | 15 June 1992 |
| Eritrea | 20 December 1993 | 3 August 1994 |
| Estonia | - | 21 October 1991 |
| Ethiopia | - | 14 May 1991 |
| Fiji | 2 July 1993 | 13 August 1993 |
| Finland | 26 January 1990 | 20 June 1991 |
| France | 26 January 1990 | 7 August 1990 |
| Gabon | 26 January 1990 | 9 February 1994 |
| Gambia | 5 February 1990 | 8 August 1990 |
| Georgia | - | 2 June 1994 |
| Germany | 26 January 1990 | 6 March 1992 |
| Ghana | 29 January 1990 | 5 February 1990 |
| Greece | 26 January 1990 | 11 May 1993 |
| Grenade | 21 February 1990 | 5 November 1990 |
| Guatemala | 26 January 1990 | 6 June 1990 |
| Guinea | - | 13 July 1990 |
| Guinea Bissau | 26 January 1990 | 20 August 1990 |
| Guyana | 30 September 1990 | 14 January 1991 |
| Holy See | 20 April 1990 | 20 April 1990 |
| Honduras | 31 May 1990 | 10 August 1990 |
| Hungary | 14 March 1990 | 7 October 1991 |
| Iceland | 26 January 1990 | 28 October 1992 |
| India | - | 11 December 1992 |
| Indonesia | 26 January 1990 | 5 September 1990 |
| Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 5 September 1991 | 13 July 1994 |
| Iraq | - | 15 June 1994 |
| Ireland | 30 September 1990 | 28 September 1992 |
| Israel | 3 July 1990 | 3 October 1991 |
| Italy | 26 January 1990 | 5 September 1991 |
| Jamaica | 26 January 1990 | 14 May 1991 |
| Japan | 21 September 1990 | 22 April 1994 |
| Jordan | 29 August 1990 | 24 May 1991 |
| Kazakhstan | 16 February 1994 | 12 August 1994 |
| Kenya | 26 January 1990 | 30 July 1990 |
| Kiribati | - | 11 December 1995 |
| Kuwait | 7 June 1990 | 21 October 1991 |
| Kyrgyzstan | - | 7 October 1994 |
| Lao People's Democratic Republic | - | 8 May 1991 |
| Latvia | - | 14 April 1992 |
| Lebanon | 26 January 1990 | 14 May 1991 |
| Lesotho | 21 August 1990 | 10 March 1992 |
| Liberia | 26 April 1990 | 4 June 1993 |
| Libyan Ara Jamahiriya | - | 15 April 1993 |
| Liechtenstien | 30 September 1990 | 22 December 1995 |
| Lithuania | - | 31 January 1992 |
| Luxembourg | 21 March 1990 | 7 March 1994 |
| Magadascar | 19 April 1990 | 19 March 1991 |
| Malawi | - | 2 January 1991 |
| Malaysia | - | 17 February 1995 |
| Maldives | 21 August 1990 | 11 February 1991 |
| Mali | 26 January 1990 | 20 September 1990 |
| Malta | 26 January 1990 | 30 September 1990 |
| Marshall Islands | 14 April 1993 | 4 October 1993 |
| Mauritania | 26 January 1990 | 16 May 1991 |
| Mauritius | - | 26 July 1990 |
| Mexico | 26 January 1990 | 21 September 1990 |
| Micronesia (Federal States of) | - | 5 May 1993 |
| Monaco | - | 21 June 1993 |
| Mongolia | 26 January 1990 | 5 July 1990 |
| Montenegro | - | 23 October 2006 |
| Morocco | 26 January 1990 | 21 June 1993 |
| Mozambique | 30 September 1990 | 26 April 1994 |
| Myanmar | - | 15 July 1991 |
| Namibia | 26 January 1990 | 30 September 1990 |
| Nauru | - | 27 July 1994 |
| Nepal | 26 January 1990 | 14 September 1990 |
| Netherlands | 26 January 1990 | 6 February 1995 |
| New Zealand | 1 October 1990 | 6 April 1993 |
| Nicaragua | 6 February 1990 | 5 October 1990 |
| Niger | 26 January 1990 | 30 September 1990 |
| Nigeria | 26 January 1990 | 19 April 1991 |
| Niue | - | 20 December 1995 |
| Norway | 26 January 1990 | 8 January 1991 |
| Oman | - | 9 December 1996 |
| Pakistan | 20 September 1990 | 12 November 1990 |
| Palau | - | 4 August 1995 |
| Panama | 26 January 1990 | 12 December 1990 |
| Papua New Guinea | 30 September 1990 | 2 March 1993 |
| Paraguay | 4 April 1990 | 25 September 1990 |
| Peru | 26 January 1990 | 4 September 1990 |
| Philippines | 26 January 1990 | 21 August 1990 |
| Poland | 26 January 1990 | 7 June 1991 |
| Portugal | 26 January 1990 | 21 September 1990 |
| Qatar | 8 December 1992 | 3 April 1995 |
| Republic of Korea | 25 September 1990 | 20 November 1991 |
| Republic of Moldova | - | 26 January 1993 |
| Romania | 26 January 1990 | 28 September 1990 |
| Russian Federation | 26 January 1990 | 16 August 1990 |
| Rwanda | 26 January 1990 | 24 January 1991 |
| Samoa | 30 September 1990 | 29 November 1994 |
| San Marino | - | 25 November 1991 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | - | 14 May 1991 |
| Saudi Arabia | - | 26 January 1996 |
| Senegal | 26 January 1990 | 31 July 1990 |
| Serbia | - | 12 March 2001 |
| Seychelles | - | 7 September 1990 |
| Sierra Leone | 13 February 1990 | 18 June 1990 |
| Singapore | - | 5 October 1995 |
| Slovakia | - | 28 May 1993 |
| Slovenia | - | 6 July 1992 |
| Solomon Islands | - | 10 April 1995 |
| Somalia | 9 May 2002 | - |
| South Africa | 29 January 1993 | 16 June 1995 |
| Spain | 26 January 1990 | 6 December 1990 |
| Sri Lanka | 26 January 1990 | 12 July 1991 |
| St Kitts and Nevis | 26 January 1990 | 24 July 1990 |
| St Lucia | 30 September 1990 | 16 June 1993 |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | 20 September 1993 | 26 October 1993 |
| Sudan | 24 July 1990 | 3 August 1990 |
| Suriname | 26 January 1990 | 1 March 1993 |
| Swaziland | 22 August 1990 | 7 September 1995 |
| Sweden | 26 January 1990 | 29 June 1990 |
| Switzerland | 1 May 1991 | 24 February 1997 |
| Syrian Arab Republic | 18 September 1990 | 15 July 1993 |
| Tajikistan | - | 26 October 1993 |
| Thailand | - | 27 March 1992 |
| The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | - | 2 December 1993 |
| Timor Leste | - | 16 April 2003 |
| Togo | 26 January 1990 | 1 August 1990 |
| Tonga | - | 6 November 1995 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 30 September 1990 | 5 December 1991 |
| Tunisia | 26 February 1990 | 30 January 1992 |
| Turkey | 14 September 1990 | 4 April 1995 |
| Turkmenistan | - | 20 September 1993 |
| Tuvalu | - | 22 September 1995 |
| Uganda | 17 August 1990 | 17 August 1990 |
| Ukraine | 21 February 1990 | 28 August 1991 |
| United Arab Emirates | - | 3 January 1997 |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 19 April 1990 | 16 December 1991 |
| United Republic of Tanzania | 1 June 1990 | 10 June 1991 |
| United State of America | 16 February 1995 | - |
| Uruguay | 26 January 1990 | 20 November 1990 |
| Uzbekistan | - | 29 June 1994 |
| Vanuatu | 30 September 1990 | 7 July 1993 |
| Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | 26 January 1990 | 13 September 1990 |
| Viet Nam | 26 January 1990 | 28 February 1990 |
| Yemen | 13 February 1990 | 1 May 1991 |
| Zambia | 30 September 1990 | 6 December 1991 |
| Zimbabwe | 8 March 1990 | 11 September 1990 |