Keeping the Promise

Keeping the Promise: Children’s Rights in Plain Language

This article was excerpted from a children’s poster developed by UNICEF: United Nations Children’s Fund with the cooperation of the Canadian International Development Agency. For a copy of the poster or for more information, videos, education resources or other posters and exhibits on the Convention, contact your provincial UNICEF office or UNICEF Canada at 443 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M45 2L8. For more activities on children’s rights, visit the global schoolhouse at www.unicef.ca.

“Rights” are about what you should have and be able to do so that you have the best chance to reach your full potential. You share the same rights as all children around the world. These rights are listed in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention is an agreement by almost every country in the world to do what is best for children.

There are 54 articles in the Convention, each one telling about a right that you have. Article 42 says that you have the right to know what your rights are! A group of young people chose the articles they thought other children should know, and put them in their own words here.

Article 1: Any person under the age of 18 is a child and has all the rights in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children are people, too. Jacob, Age 7

Article 2: You have these rights, whoever you are, whoever your parents are, whatever colour you are, whatever religion your are, whatever language you speak, whether you're a boy or a girl, whether you have a physical disability or if you are rich or poor. Jennifer, Age 11

Articles 3, 4, 5, 18: Your mother, father or legal guardian must take care of you and always act in your best interest. The government has to help them provide what you need to survive and grow.
Nadine, Age 12

Article 6: You have the right to be alive! Heather, Age 5

Articles 7, 8: You have the right to a name, and this should be recorded when you are born. You also have the right to a nationality. Simon, Age 12

Article 9, 20: You should not be separated from your parents unless it is your best interest. If you are separated from your parents you have the right to he raised by someone who loves and cares for you. Davis, Age 12

Article 10: If you live in a different country than your parents do, you have the right to visit them. Governments should help you stay united with your family. Greg, Age 12

Article 12: You have the right to say your opinion and adults should take it seriously. Simon, Age 12

Article 13: You have the right to share your opinions with others, by talking, drawing, writing or in any way you like, unless it harms or offends other people. Simon, Age 12

Article 14: You have the right to choose your own religion and beliefs. Your parents should help you to decide what is right and wrong and what is best for you. Glenda, Age 9

Article 15: You have the right to choose your own friends and join groups as long as it isn't harmful to others. Davis, Age 12

Article 16: You have the right to privacy. Effie, Age 8

Article 17: You have the right to get information that is important to you from radio, newspaper, television, books and computers and other sources. Adults should make sure that you get the information you need and help you to understand it. Glenda, Age 9

Article 19, 34, 39: Adults who take care of you cannot mistreat you, beat you or make you feel worthless. You have the right to be free from emotional, physical and sexual abuse. If you are abused, you have the right to have help to recover. Jennifer, Age 11

Article 23: If you are disabled, you have the right to special care, protection and education. You also have the same rights as all other children. Tanya, Age 11

Article 24, 27: You have the right to good health care, safe water to drink, nutritious food and a safe place to live. Simon, Age 12

Article 28: You have the right to an education. You should be able to go to school to the highest level that you can. Glenda, Age 9

Article 29: Your education should help you use your talents and abilities. It should also help you learn to live peacefully, protect the environment and respect other people. Jennifer, Age 11

Article 30: You have the right to enjoy your own culture or any culture you choose. You also have the right to speak your own language. Sherry, Age 10

Article 31: You have the right to play and rest. Aku, Age 8

Article 32: You have the right to be protected from work that harms you or gets in the way of your health or education. If you must work, you have the right to be safe and to be paid fairly for what you do. Tiffany Age 9

Article 33: You have the right to say no to drugs and to selling drugs. Susana, Age 10

Article 11, 35: No one is allowed to kidnap or sell children. William, Age 10

Article 37, 40: Even if you do something wrong, your punishment can't be cruel. You have the right to legal help and fair treatment. Vanessa, Age 11

Article 48: You have the right to be free from war but if you are in a war zone, you have the right to protection. You can't be forced to go into the army or take part in war. Refugee children need special help. William, Age 12

Article 48: You have the right to know your rights! Effie, Age 8

Help UNICEF help kids
What can you do to help protect the rights of children? You can pledge to help "keep the promise" by respecting the rights of children. In developing countries, children are helping other children to secure their rights with some help from UNICEF. Order and hang a copy of a poster about children’s rights in your child care setting.

Interaction, Vol. 15, No. 2, Summer 2001, p. 10.