The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child - Unicef UK
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child - Unicef UK
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child - Unicef UK
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<str<strong>on</strong>g>C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Child</strong><br />
Adopted and opened for signature, ratificati<strong>on</strong> and accessi<strong>on</strong> by General Assembly<br />
Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 44/25 <strong>of</strong> 20 November 1989<br />
entry into force 2 September 1990, in accordance with Article 49<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> States Parties to <strong>the</strong> present <str<strong>on</strong>g>C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
Preamble<br />
C<strong>on</strong>sidering that, in accordance with <strong>the</strong> principles proclaimed in <strong>the</strong> Charter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>United</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>s</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
recogniti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> inherent dignity and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> equal and inalienable rights <strong>of</strong> all members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> human<br />
family is <strong>the</strong> foundati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> freedom, justice and peace in <strong>the</strong> world,<br />
Bearing in mind that <strong>the</strong> peoples <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>United</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>s</str<strong>on</strong>g> have, in <strong>the</strong> Charter, reaffirmed <strong>the</strong>ir faith in<br />
fundamental human rights and in <strong>the</strong> dignity and worth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> human pers<strong>on</strong>, and have determined to<br />
promote social progress and better standards <strong>of</strong> life in larger freedom,<br />
Recognizing that <strong>the</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>United</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>s</str<strong>on</strong>g> has, in <strong>the</strong> Universal Declarati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Human <strong>Rights</strong> and in <strong>the</strong><br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al Covenants <strong>on</strong> Human <strong>Rights</strong>, proclaimed and agreed that every<strong>on</strong>e is entitled to all <strong>the</strong> rights<br />
and freedoms set forth <strong>the</strong>rein, without distincti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
political or o<strong>the</strong>r opini<strong>on</strong>, nati<strong>on</strong>al or social origin, property, birth or o<strong>the</strong>r status,<br />
Recalling that, in <strong>the</strong> Universal Declarati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Human <strong>Rights</strong>, <strong>the</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>United</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>s</str<strong>on</strong>g> has proclaimed that<br />
childhood is entitled to special care and assistance,<br />
C<strong>on</strong>vinced that <strong>the</strong> family, as <strong>the</strong> fundamental group <strong>of</strong> society and <strong>the</strong> natural envir<strong>on</strong>ment for <strong>the</strong> growth<br />
and well-being <strong>of</strong> all its members and particularly children, should be afforded <strong>the</strong> necessary<br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> and assistance so that it can fully assume its resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities within <strong>the</strong> community,<br />
Recognizing that <strong>the</strong> child, for <strong>the</strong> full and harm<strong>on</strong>ious development <strong>of</strong> his or her pers<strong>on</strong>ality, should grow<br />
up in a family envir<strong>on</strong>ment, in an atmosphere <strong>of</strong> happiness, love and understanding,<br />
C<strong>on</strong>sidering that <strong>the</strong> child should be fully prepared to live an individual life in society, and brought up in <strong>the</strong><br />
spirit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ideals proclaimed in <strong>the</strong> Charter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>United</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>s</str<strong>on</strong>g>, and in particular in <strong>the</strong> spirit <strong>of</strong> peace,<br />
dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity,<br />
Bearing in mind that <strong>the</strong> need to extend particular care to <strong>the</strong> child has been stated in <strong>the</strong> Geneva<br />
Declarati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Child</strong> <strong>of</strong> 1924 and in <strong>the</strong> Declarati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Child</strong> adopted by<br />
<strong>the</strong> General Assembly <strong>on</strong> 20 November 1959 and recognized in <strong>the</strong> Universal Declarati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Human <strong>Rights</strong>,<br />
in <strong>the</strong> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Covenant <strong>on</strong> Civil and Political <strong>Rights</strong> (in particular in Articles 23 and 24), in <strong>the</strong><br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al Covenant <strong>on</strong> Ec<strong>on</strong>omic, Social and Cultural <strong>Rights</strong> (in particular in Article 10) and in <strong>the</strong> statutes<br />
and relevant instruments <strong>of</strong> specialized agencies and internati<strong>on</strong>al organizati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerned with <strong>the</strong> welfare<br />
<strong>of</strong> children,<br />
Bearing in mind that, as indicated in <strong>the</strong> Declarati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Child</strong>, “<strong>the</strong> child, by reas<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> his<br />
physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protecti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
before as well as after birth”,<br />
Recalling <strong>the</strong> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Declarati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> Social and Legal Principles relating to <strong>the</strong> Protecti<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Welfare <strong>of</strong> <strong>Child</strong>ren, with Special Reference to Foster Placement and Adopti<strong>on</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>ally and<br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>ally; <strong>the</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>United</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>s</str<strong>on</strong>g> Standard Minimum Rules for <strong>the</strong> Administrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Juvenile Justice (<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Beijing Rules) ; and <strong>the</strong> Declarati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> Protecti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Women and <strong>Child</strong>ren in Emergency and Armed<br />
C<strong>on</strong>flict, Recognizing that, in all countries in <strong>the</strong> world, <strong>the</strong>re are children living in excepti<strong>on</strong>ally<br />
difficult c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, and that such children need special c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
Taking due account <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> traditi<strong>on</strong>s and cultural values <strong>of</strong> each people for <strong>the</strong> protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
and harm<strong>on</strong>ious development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> child, Recognizing <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> internati<strong>on</strong>al cooperati<strong>on</strong> for<br />
improving <strong>the</strong> living c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> children in every country, in particular in <strong>the</strong> developing countries,<br />
Have agreed as follows:<br />
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