United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention on the Rights of the Child
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.
Contents
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 Signatures, Ratifications, and Accessions to the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Country | Signature | Ratification/Accession |
---|---|---|
Afghanistan | 4 February 1985 | 1 April 1987 |
Albania | - | 11 May 1994 |
Algeria | 26 November 1985 | 12 September 1989 |
Andorra | 5 August 2002 | 22 September 2006 |
Antigua and Barbuda | - | 19 July 1993 |
Argentina | 4 February 1985 | 24 September 1986 |
Armenia | - | 13 September 1993 |
Australia | 10 December 1985 | 8 August 1989 |
Austria | 14 March 1985 | 29 July 1987 |
Azerbaijan | - | 16 August 1996 |
Bahamas | 16 December 2008 | - |
Bahrain | - | 6 March 1998 |
Bangladesh | - | 5 October 1998 |
Belarus | 19 December 1985 | 13 March 1987 |
Belgium | 4 February 1985 | 25 June 1999 |
Belize | - | 17 March 1986 |
Benin | - | 12 March 1992 |
Bolivia | 4 February 1985 | 12 April 1999 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | - | 1 September 1993 |
Botswana | 8 September 2000 | 8 September 2000 |
Brazil | 23 September 1985 | 28 September 1989 |
Bulgaria | 10 June 1986 | 16 December 1986 |
Burkina Faso | - | 4 January 1999 |
Burundi | - | 18 February 1993 |
Cambodia | - | 15 October 1992 |
Cameroon | - | 19 December 1986 |
Canada | 23 August 1985 | 24 June 1987 |
Cape Verde | - | 4 June 1992 |
Chad | - | 9 June 1995 |
Chile | 23 September 1987 | 30 September 1988 |
China | 12 December 1986 | 4 October 1988 |
Colombia | 10 April 1985 | 8 December 1987 |
Comoros | 22 September 2000 | - |
Congo | - | 30 July 2003 |
Costa Rica | 4 February 1985 | 11 November 1993 |
Ivory Coast | - | 18 December 1995 |
Croatia | - | 12 October 1992 |
Cuba | 27 January 1986 | 17 May 1995 |
Cyprus | 9 October 1985 | 18 July 1991 |
Czech Republic | - | 22 February 1993 |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | - | 18 March 1996 |
Denmark | 4 February 1985 | 27 May 1987 |
Djibouti | - | 5 November 2002 |
Dominican Republic | 4 February 1985 | - |
Ecuador | 4 February 1985 | 30 March 1988 |
Egypt | - | 25 June 1986 |
El Salvador | - | 17 June 1996 |
Equatorial Guinea | - | 8 October 2002 |
Estonia | - | 21 October 1991 |
Ethiopia | - | 14 March 1994 |
Finland | 4 February 1985 | 30 August 1989 |
France | 4 February 1985 | 18 February 1986 |
Gabon | 21 January 1986 | 8 September 2000 |
Gambia | 23 October 1985 | - |
Georgia | - | 26 October 1994 |
Germany | 13 October 1986 | 1 October 1990 |
Ghana | 7 September 2000 | 7 September 2000 |
Greece | 4 February 1985 | 6 October 1988 |
Guatemala | - | 5 January 1990 |
Guinea | 30 May 1986 | 10 October 1989 |
Guinea Bissau | 12 September 2000 | - |
Guyana | 25 January 1988 | 19 May 1988 |
Holy See | - | 26 June 2002 |
Honduras | - | 5 December 1996 |
Hungary | 28 November 1986 | 15 April 1987 |
Iceland | 4 February 1985 | 23 October 1998 |
Iraq | - | 7 July 2011 |
Ireland | 28 September 1992 | 11 April 2002 |
Israel | 22 October 1986 | 3 October 1991 |
Italy | 4 February 1985 | 12 January 1989 |
Japan | - | 29 June 1999 |
Jordan | - | 13 November 1991 |
Kazakhstan | - | 26 August 1998 |
Kenya | - | 21 February 1997 |
Kuwait | - | 8 March 1996 |
Kyrgyzstan | - | 5 September 1997 |
Lao People's Democratic Republic | 21 September 2010 | - |
Latvia | - | 14 April 1992 |
Lebanon | - | 5 October 2000 |
Lesotho | - | 12 November 2001 |
Liberia | - | 22 September 2004 |
Libyan Ara Jamahiriya | - | 16 May 1989 |
Liechtenstien | 27 June 1985 | 2 November 1990 |
Lithuania | - | 1 February 1996 |
Luxembourg | 22 February 1985 | 29 September 1987 |
Magadascar | 1 October 2001 | 13 December 2005 |
Malawi | - | 11 June 1996 |
Maldives | - | 20 April 2004 |
Mali | - | 26 February 1999 |
Malta | - | 13 September 1990 |
Mauritania | - | 17 November 2004 |
Mexico | 18 March 1985 | 23 January 1986 |
Monaco | - | 6 December 1991 |
Mongolia | - | 24 January 2002 |
Montenegro | - | 23 October 2006 |
Morocco | 8 January 1986 | 21 June 1993 |
Mozambique | - | 14 September 1999 |
Namibia | - | 28 November 1994 |
Naura | 12 November 2001 | - |
Nepal | - | 14 May 1991 |
Netherlands | 4 February 1985 | 21 December 1988 |
New Zealand | 14 January 1986 | 10 December 1989 |
Nicaragua | 15 April 1985 | 5 July 2005 |
Niger | - | 5 October 1998 |
Nigeria | 28 July 1988 | 28 June 2001 |
Norway | 4 February 1985 | 9 July 1986 |
Pakistan | 17 April 2008 | 23 June 2010 |
Palau | 20 September 2011 | - |
Panama | 22 February 1985 | 24 August 1987 |
Paraguay | 23 October 1989 | 12 March 1990 |
Peru | 29 May 1985 | 7 July 1988 |
Philippines | - | 18 June 1986 |
Poland | 13 January 1986 | 26 July 1989 |
Portugal | 4 February 1985 | 9 February 1989 |
Qatar | - | 11 January 2000 |
Republic of Korea | - | 9 January 1995 |
Republic of Moldova | - | 28 November 1995 |
Romania | - | 18 December 1990 |
Russian Federation | 10 December 1985 | 3 March 1987 |
Rwanda | - | 15 December 2008 |
San Marino | 18 September 2002 | 27 November 2006 |
Sao Tome and Principe | 6 September 2000 | - |
Saudi Arabia | - | 23 September 1997 |
Senegal | 4 February 1985 | 21 August 1986 |
Serbia | - | 12 March 2001 |
Seychelles | - | 5 May 1992 |
Sierra Leone | 18 March 1985 | 25 April 2001 |
Slovakia | - | 28 May 1993 |
Slovenia | - | 16 July 1993 |
Somalia | - | 24 January 1990 |
South Africa | 29 January 1993 | 10December1998 |
Spain | 4 February 1985 | 21 October 1987 |
Sri Lanka | - | 3 January 1994 |
St Vincent and the Grenadines | - | 1 August 2001 |
Sudan | 4 June 1986 | - |
Swaziland | - | 26 March 2004 |
Sweden | 4 February 1985 | 8 January 1986 |
Switzerland | 4 February 1985 | 2 December 1986 |
Syrian Arab Republic | - | 19 August 2004 |
Tajikistan | - | 11 January 1995 |
Thailand | - | 2 October 2007 |
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | - | 12 December 1994 |
Timor Leste | - | 16 April 2003 |
Togo | 25 March 1987 | 18 November 1987 |
Tunisia | 26 August 1987 | 23 September 1988 |
Turkey | 25 January 1988 | 2 August 1988 |
Turkmenistan | - | 25 June 1999 |
Uganda | - | 3 November 1986 |
Ukraine | 27 February 1986 | 24 February 1987 |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 15 March 1985 | 8 December 1988 |
United State of America | 18 April 1988 | 21 October 1994 |
Uruguay | 4 February 1985 | 24 October 1986 |
Uzbekistan | - | 28 September 1995 |
Vanuatu | - | 12 July 2011 |
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | 15 February 1985 | 29 July 1991 |
Yemen | - | 5 November 1991 |
Zambia | - | 7 October 1998 |