The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
UNICEF UK youth adviser Imogen Schon went to Geneva in September 2008 to observe the Committee session on the UK report on implementation of the Convention.
UNICEF UK/2006/Hannah Jones
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the most complete statement of children’s rights ever produced. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989, and is the most widely-ratified international human rights treaty in history.
The Convention enshrines specific child rights in international law, defining universal principles and standards for the status and treatment of children worldwide. It has 41 substantive articles, and several foundation principles which underpin all other articles.
The Convention spells out a specific role for UNICEF, in its capacity as the UN body responsible for the rights of children. UNICEF is required to promote the effective implementation of the Convention and to encourage international cooperation for the benefit of children.
- Download a summary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Find out about the 20th anniversary of the CRC
A unique treaty
Human rights are founded on respect for the dignity and worth of each individual, regardless of race, gender, language, religion, opinions, wealth or ability and therefore apply to every human being everywhere.
The Convention recognises the human rights of children, defined as any person under the age of 18. In addition, it is the only international human rights treaty which includes civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, and it sets out in detail what every child needs to have for a safe, happy and fulfilled childhood.
On 20 November 1989, the governments represented at the UN General Assembly, including the UK, agreed to adopt the CRC into international law. It subsequently came into force in September 1990. The UK signed the Convention on 19 April 1990, ratified it on 16 December 1991, and it came into force in the UK on 15 January 1992.
All UN member states except for the United States and Somalia (which has signalled its intention to ratify) have now formally approved the Convention.
Government reports
States which are party to the CRC, including the UK, are required to report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Each country has to submit a comprehensive report on its implementation every five years. The Committee is a UN treaty monitoring body which assesses how well states are implementing the Convention, reports on progress and makes recommendations.
UNICEF is entitled to be represented when each country’s implementation of the CRC is considered by the Committee every five years. It may, for instance, be invited to provide expert advice on the implementation of the Convention in that country. The Committee may also pass on to UNICEF any reports from countries that contain a request, or indicate a need, for technical advice or assistance.
In 2007, the UK Government submitted its report to the Committee. UNICEF UK was involved, as part of a coalition, in assessing the Government’s response and in providing a parallel report compiled by child rights organisations in the UK.
In September 2008, the UK Government’s report was examined by the UN Committee in Geneva in a face-to-face meeting between the Committee and a UK delegation. In October 2008, the Committee issued its ‘concluding observations and recommendations’, in which it gave its assessment of the UK Government’s implementation of the CRC.
