Twenty years ago, the world made a set of promises to all children when it adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC is a major milestone in the effort to achieve a world fit for children. It has inspired changes in laws to better protect children, changed the way international organisations work and helped to protect children during conflicts. 

A special edition of UNICEF's The State of the World's Children report, released on the eve of the anniversary, shows that while great progress has been made on children's rights in the past 20 years, much remains to be done. As the champion of the CRC, UNICEF is making a promise to help every child realise their rights. Every child has the right to a childhood, to be educated, to be healthy, to be treated fairly and to be heard.
 

Take action

End child poverty in the UK

In 1998, the UK government promised to halve child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020. Together, we can help keep this promise and uphold every child’s right to a childhood. Take action now to end child poverty in the UK.

 

Make a photo pledge for children's rights

The World Photography Organisation and UNICEF are launching a global initiative to raise awareness of children’s rights and mark the 20th anniversary of the Convention. Join UNICEF Ambassadors to pledge a photo for children’s rights.

 

Young people and schools

We have created a downloadable pack with ideas for actions you can take and some template letters and press releases you can use to make sure children's rights are celebrated.

 
 

Time to promise

Support UNICEF's work to help protect children's rights worldwide by donating today. Every child has the right to a childhood, to be educated, to be healthy, to be treated fairly and to be heard.

 
 

Videos

Ewan McGregor on the CRC at 20

UNICEF is marking the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Actor Ewan McGregor, a UNICEF Ambassador since 2004, speaks out about a child's right to health and getting involved with the fight against AIDS.

 

Nafeesah Toni, South Africa

As part of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF asked young people from around the world to make one minute videos inspired by children's rights.

 

Features

Distant voices

How UNICEF is upholding children and young people’s right to a voice in the UK and around the world. Every child has the right to a voice in the things that affect them and for their views to be taken seriously. However, many children do not get heard.

 

Twenty years of the CRC

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has brought progress on child rights, but challenges remain. Dan Seymour, Chief of the Gender and Rights Unit of UNICEF’s Policy and Practice Division, offers his assessment.

 

Where the streets have no name

How UNICEF UK is protecting the rights of children living on the streets in the Philippines. Our work is based on upholding children’s rights, including the right to a childhood, which for street children like Alvin is being visibly denied.

 

Photo galleries

The rights of the child - part 1

"In all actions concerning children... the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration." The CRC is the most widely endorsed human rights treaty in the world. This photo gallery covers articles 1 to 24.

 

The rights of the child - part 2

Every child has "the right to a standard of living adequate for [her/his] physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development". The CRC is the most widely endorsed human rights treaty in the world. This photo gallery covers articles 27 to 54.