1. Pupil’s version of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Article

Short Title

Short Description

1

Definition of the child

A child is a person under 18 years of age.

2

Non-discrimination

No child should be discriminated against due to skin colour, gender, language, religion, opinion, country of origin, poverty or wealth, disability or belonging to an ethnic minority.

3

The well-being of the child is paramount

In all laws and judicial decisions, the well-being of the child comes first.

4

Implementation of rights

Each state must ensure, to the best of its ability, that children’s rights are implemented.

Respect of parental rights

Each state is responsible for making sure that the duties, rights and responsibilities of parents are carried out in such a way as to ensure that children are free to exercise their rights. (Governments must respect the rights and duties of the parents, family members and/or legal guardians by informing and advising children about their rights.)

Survival and development of the child

Every child has the right to life and survival. The state must ensure that children and young people can develop well.

Name and state membership

Every child has, from birth onwards, the right to a name, to state membership and to be cared for by their own parents.

Protection of identity

Every child has the right to keep or to restore their name, state membership and family relations.

Separation of parents

Every child has the right to live with his or her parents, apart from when they need to be protected from their parents. If a child must be separated from either or both of their parents, they have the right to be heard. If a child is separated from either or both of their parents, they have the right to know where they are.

Family reunification

Every child has the right to leave each state and travel to their own country in order to be reunified with their family.

Protection from kidnapping and abduction

Every state must fight against kidnapping and  abduction to another country and non-return of children by a parent or another person.

The child’s freedom of opinion

Every child has the right to be heard and to express their opinion on all questions and matters relating to their life. This is particularly valid in legal or administrative processes. The older the child, the more their opinion should be listened to.

Freedom of expression

Every child has the right to express their opinion freely and to obtain and disseminate information through the media. Every child also has the responsibility to express their opinion in such a way as to respect the rights of others.

Freedom of thought, conscience and religion

Every child has the right to freely practise their religion and freely exercise their thought and conscience. The state must respect the rights and responsibilities of parents when children implement these rights.

Right to peaceful public gathering

Every child has the right to gather together with other children, to join or found an association or union, as long as the rights of others are not injured in the process.

Protection of privacy

Every child has the right to not have anyone interfere with their private life, family, dwelling or written exchanges. In addition, every child has the right to not have anyone damage their honour.

Access to appropriate information

Each state must ensure that children have access to information through various forms of media and that they can acquire knowledge that is important for their well-being. The state also has the duty to protect kids from damaging information.

Responsibility of parents

Parents or guardians are jointly responsible for the upbringing of the child. The state has the responsibility to support them in this and, for example, to make childcare available should the parents need to work.

Protection from abuse

The state is responsible for protecting the child from abuse by parents or other people. Every child has the right to learn how to avoid or deal with every form of abuse.

Young people without families

Every child that doesn’t live with their family, has the right to special protection and support. They then have the right to a foster family or care in an appropriate institution that is considerate of their religious, cultural or linguistic background.

Adoption

A child can be adopted if adoption is authorised, recognised and approved by the country and if it serves the well-being of the child.

Refugee children

Every child who is forced to leave their country, who is a refugee and seeking asylum, has a right to special protection by the state.

Disabled children

Every child with a disability has a right to special care and education. They should be helped to be independent and to participate actively in their communities.

Health and medical services

Every child has the right to the best possible medical care. The state has the duty to combat child mortality, to ensure medical provisions for young people, to combat poor diet and illness, to guarantee medical care for pregnant women and young mothers, to make accessible health education, to develop prevention in the public health sector and to abolish customs that harm children.

Review of treatment or care

Every child that has been admitted to an institution for their protection, care or treatment has the right to have their admission checked and reviewed.

Social security

Every child has the right to social security such as a social insurance. The state guarantees the child payments which take into consideration the financial situation of the family or carers.

Standard of living

Every child has the right to a standard of living appropriate to their physical, spiritual, moral and social development. The parents or guardians are above all responsible for ensuring this. The state has the duty to support them in this.

Every child has the right to an education and to school. The state has the duty to make primary education free and obligatory and similarly to make secondary education accessible to all children and young people. The state has the duty to ensure that children and young people are treated appropriately at school and that their human rights are not infringed upon.

Educational aims

School education should develop each child’s personality and talents, prepare each child for adult life and should encourage children to respect human rights and their own and other cultures and values.

Children of minorities

Every child belonging to a minority has the right to learn about and practise their own culture, religion and language.

Rest, play and free time

Every child has the right to rest and free time in which they can play and participate freely in cultural and artistic life.

Child labour

Every child has the right to be protected from every form of exploitation and work that could damage their education or development. The state has the duty of determining a minimum age for the permission to work, the amount of hours per day and working conditions.

Protection form narcotic drugs

Every child has the right to be protected from the production and trade of illegal drugs.

Protection form sexual exploitation

Every child has the right to be protected from sexual exploitation and abuse and from prostitution and pornography.

Protection from sale and trafficking

The state must undertake everything within its power to ensure that children and young people are not abducted or trafficked.

Protection from all other forms of exploitation

Every child has the right to be protected from all other forms of exploitation (e.g. begging)

Every child has the right to protection from torture, cruel treatment or punishment, illegal arrest or any other forms of injury to their personal freedom. The state has the duty to prohibit the death penalty and life imprisonment for young people. If a child is imprisoned, they have the right to humane and respectful treatment. If a child or young person is arrested, they must not be held in confinement with adults, be able to keep in contact with their families and have the right to legal assistance.

Children and young people under 15 years of age have the right to not take part in war and armed conflict. The state has the duty to grant special protection to children who are affected by war.

Every child who is the victim of armed conflict, torture, neglect or exploitation has the right to appropriate care to enable them to become mentally and physically healthy and to be integrated in a community.

Every child accused of committing a crime has the right to be treated with dignity in court. They are innocent until proven guilty. Every child has the right to a fair trial, an interpreter (if needed), the protection of their privacy and to have a court decision re-examined. The state has the duty to set a minimum age below which children cannot be held criminally responsible. The state also has the duty to provide alternatives to imprisonment for convicted children and young people.

If a country has laws that protect children and young people better than the children’s rights convention, then those laws apply.

Every state has the responsibility to make children’s rights known to adults and children in an understandable way.