What is the Convention on the Rights of the Child and what are its fundamental principles? The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first ...

What is the Convention on the Rights of the Child and what are its fundamental principles?

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first legally binding international instrument that incorporates the full range of human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political, and social.
It was adopted by the UN General Assembly on November 20, 1989, and is exclusively intended for every child.
The Convention identifies as a child every human being under the age of eighteen, unless, under the law applicable to him or her, he or she has reached the age of majority before.
The Convention establishes 54 articles and two Optional Protocols. It defines the basic human rights enjoyed by children everywhere: the right to survival; to full development; to protection against harmful influences, abuse, and exploitation; and to full participation in family, cultural, and social life.
The four fundamental principles of the Convention are non-discrimination; dedication to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival, and development; and respect for the views of the child.
By accepting the obligations of the Convention, national governments have committed to protecting and ensuring the rights of children and have accepted that they will be held accountable for this commitment by the international community.