Convention
on the Rights of the Child
Adopted
and opened for signature, ratification and accession by
General Assembly resolution 44/25
of 20 November 1989
entry into force2 September 1990, in accordance with article 49
Preamble
The States Parties to the present Convention,
Considering
that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United
Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable
rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice
and peace in the world,
Bearing
in mind that the peoples of the United Nations have, in the Charter, reaffirmed
their faith in fundamental human rights and in the dignity and worth of the
human person, and have determined to promote social progress and better
standards of life in larger freedom,
Recognizing
that the United Nations has, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
in the International Covenants on Human Rights, proclaimed and agreed that
everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without
distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,
Recalling
that, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations has
proclaimed that childhood is entitled to special care and assistance,
Convinced
that the family, as the fundamental group of society and the natural
environment for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly
children, should be afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it
can fully assume its responsibilities within the community,
Recognizing
that the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding,
Considering
that the child should be fully prepared to live an individual life in society, and brought up in the spirit of the ideals proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, and in particular in the spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity,
Bearing
in mind that the need to extend particular care to the child has been stated in
the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 1924 and in the
Declaration of the Rights of the Child adopted by the General Assembly on 20
November 1959 and recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (in particular in
articles 23 and 24), in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (in particular in article 10) and in the statutes and relevant
instruments of specialized agencies and international organizations concerned
with the welfare of children, '
Bearing
in mind that, as indicated in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, "the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth",
Recalling
the provisions of the Declaration on Social and Legal Principles relating to
the Protection and Welfare of Children, with Special Reference to Foster
Placement and Adoption Nationally and Internationally; the United Nations
Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (The Beijing
Rules) ; and the Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in
Emergency and Armed Conflict,
Recognizing
that, in all countries in the world, there are children living in exceptionally
difficult conditions, and that such children need special consideration,
Taking
due account of the importance of the traditions and cultural values of each
people for the protection and harmonious development of the child,
Recognizing
the importance of international co-operation for improving the living
conditions of children in every country, in particular in the developing
countries,
Have
agreed as follows:
PART
I
Article
1
For the
purposes of the present Convention, a child means every human being below the
age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is
attained earlier.
