UNCRC

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNCRC) sets out the fundamental rights for chidren. It's a complete statement of children's rights and outlines the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all children and entitled to.

These rights can be categorised as:

• survival rights, e.g. article 27 - I have the right to food, clothing and a safe home
• protection rights, e.g. article 19 - I should be protected from being hurt or treated badly
• developmental rights, e.g. article 29 - my education should develop my interests and talents and my respect for other people and our environment
• participation rights, e.g. article 12 - I have the right to share my experiences, opinions and ideas and to be taken seriously

The UNCRC is the most ratified treaty in the world and its 54 articles cover all aspects of a child's life and take into account the best interests of children.

All of the rights are:

• universal: everyone under the age of 18 has rights under the UNCRC
• unconditional: rights are automatic  - they are not 'earned'
• inalienable: rights cannot be given or taken away
• inherent: rights are permanent
• indivisible: Children's rights are dependent on each other for their effectiveness. You cannot pick and choose rights - you must uphold them all.