Join us in recognizing and honouring the rights of children as we celebrate National Child Day on November 20th. This day marks the United Nations’ landmark adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1989. The UNCRC provides a full list of rights for all children up to the age of 18 that enable their flourishing and full development.
Did You Know?
There are 54 Articles in the UNCRC dealing with the conditions needed for children’s flourishing. See the UNCRC in child-friendly language.
Almost every country in the world has signed and ratified the Convention. Of the 193 Member States that comprise the United Nations, only the United States has not ratified the UNCRC.
The 3 P’s of the UNCRC:
Provision Rights (e.g. right to education, health care, leisure, an adequate standard of living, etc.)
Protection Rights (e.g. right to be from abuse, exploitation and harmful substances, special protection for orphans, refugees, disabled children, etc.)
Participation Rights (e.g., listening to children’s views and respecting their evolving capacities in decision-making, right to freedom of assembly, etc.)
What are the Convention’s Basic Principles?
1. Non-discrimination (Article 2) - All rights apply to all children without exception.
2. Best Interests of the Child (Article 3) – Shall be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children
3. Life, Survival and Development (Article 6) - Recognizes the child’s inherent right to life and requires advancing the child’s survival and development to the maximum extent possible.
4. Participation (Article 12) - Children capable of expressing their own views have a right to do so in all matters affecting them, and those views must be given due weight.
You can find helpful resources and more information about National Child Day and children’s rights on our website.
Learn more about National Child Day: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/national-child-day.html
Download the National Child Day Kit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/national-child-day/children-s-rights-activity-guide.html
UNICEF Canada resources for National Child Day: https://www.unicef.ca/en/national-child-day
UNICEF Resources on children’s rights: https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention/resources
Video Resources
What are children’s rights? Learn with UNICEF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Vf8A1iJJA4&list=PLzfcpxK7Y8rTpOC77sPKXfohk5WFQz5om
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – University of Belfast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uew8OYvr-UE&t=6s
Children’s Rights Organizations in Canada:
UNICEF Canada: https://www.unicef.ca/en
Children First Canada: https://childrenfirstcanada.org
Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children: http://rightsofchildren.ca
Equitas: https://equitas.org
Society for Children and Youth of B.C.: https://scyofbc.org/child-rights-info/
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