Children's rights

Why do we need children's rights? Which children's rights are included in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child? And what do children's rights mean for parenting? Find out more about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in this article.

Children have rights! Children's rights are rights enshrined worldwide in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to protect and promote the participation of children. They describe what children need to grow up well and healthy. In the Convention on the Rights of the Child, "children" refers to all people under the age of 18, including young people.

On November 20, 1989, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is one of the most signed human rights treaties in the world. It came into force in the Federal Republic of Germany in 1992. The convention lays down key provisions for the protection of children worldwide. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child monitors compliance. The countries that have signed the convention must regularly report to the Committee on what they are doing to implement children's rights.

The four basic principles of this convention include

• the prohibition of discrimination,
• the right to life, survival and development,
• the principle of the best interests of the child and
• the right to participation.

A central statement in the Convention is that in all actions concerning children, their best interests shall be a primary consideration.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child consists of a total of 54 articles. UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has summarized the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 10 basic rights:

The full UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the official translation can be found on the website www.kinderrechte.de.

By ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992, Germany committed itself to promoting the implementation of children's rights both nationally and in development cooperation. In Germany, for example, children's rights are taken into account in the Child and Youth Welfare Act (Social Code VIII).

As parents, you play a central role in your child's development. You are the most important person to look after your child's well-being and interests. By observing general children's rights in everyday family life, you create the best conditions for your child to grow up healthy and happy.

This includes:

• For a healthy upbringing, you promote a loving family environment in which your child experiences security, warmth, respect, appreciation, openness, safety, stimulation and support.
• As parents, you take your child seriously and respect their wishes and needs.
• When you as parents make decisions that affect your child, they will be involved according to their age and maturity. Your child can expect you to listen to them and respect their opinion.
• As parents, you treat your child as an equal and guide them to act independently and responsibly.
• Your child has the right to a non-violent upbringing. Physical punishments, emotional injuries and other degrading measures are not permitted.
• You give your child freedom and set clear boundaries when your child needs protection and support.
• Your child has the right to learn as much as they want and are able to. When choosing a type of school, training and profession, take your child's aptitude and inclination into consideration.
• Your child has the right to have their own space and privacy respected. This includes, for example, not reading chats on the cell phone or the diary.
• If your child lives separately from one or both parents and access rights are not restricted, they have the right to a personal relationship and contact with both parents.
• One of your responsibilities as a parent is to inform your child of their rights. After all, your child can only make use of their rights once they are aware of them. You can find age-appropriate information on children's rights online on the websites SeitenStark and KiMi from the Ministry of Children's Affairs.