UNCRC stands for ‘UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’.
The UNCRC is an international human rights treaty. Currently 196 counties agree with the treaty. This includes every member state of the UN except for USA.
The United Kingdom and Ireland have agreed to the treaty.
A special convention for children was needed because people under the age of 18 need special care and protection that adults don’t necessarily need.
Governments are responsible for making these rights available for everyone, and making sure that all parents and children know about and understand the convention.
- The UNCRC has 42 Articles and is guided by four fundamental principles.non-discrimination: Children should not suffer because of their race; colour; gender; language; religion; national, social or ethnic origin; or because of any political or other opinion; because of their class, property or birth status; or because they are disabled.
The best interests of the child: Laws and actions affecting children should put their best interests first and in the best possible way.
survival, development and protection: The authorities in each country must protect children and help ensure their full development — physically, spiritually, morally and socially.
Participation: Children have a right to have their say in decisions that affect them and to have their opinions taken into account.
Find out more about the Articles of the UNCRC here:
We have worked closely with the Children’s Law Centre and Save the Children to bring evidence to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
We hope that this information is used to hold the UK government and Stormont Executive to account and bring about positive change.
Check out this video made by young people in October 2015 and which was presented to the UN Committee :