Right to equality, to have a name, to have education and food? We celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In 1959, the UN approved the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child, ten principles that aim to guarantee all children the necessary care, protection and education. This step taken by 78 UN member states was the first great international consensus on the fundamental rights of the child, whose objective was to guarantee their protection and development.
Thirty years later, in 1989, the UN went further with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, where throughout 54 articles the document introduces very important news regarding the 1959 Declaration, such as the recognition of children as citizens from birth.
What are these rights?
1. Right to equality, without distinction of race, religion, or nationality.
2. Right to have special protection for the child’s physical, mental and social development.
3. Right to a name and a nationality from birth.
4. Right to adequate food, shelter and medical care.
5. Right to education and special treatment for those children who suffer from a mental or physical disability.
6. Right to understanding and love of parents and society.
7. Right to free education, to have fun and to play.
8. Right to be among the first to receive help in case of danger.
9. Right to protection against any form of abandonment, cruelty and exploitation.
10. Right to receive an education that fosters solidarity, friendship and justice among everyone