Human rights are those basic standards without which people cannot live in dignity.  To advocate human rights is to demand that the human dignity of all human beings is to be respected.

Our kids are our valueless treasure and as from 1989 our kids have a special set of rights.  This set of rights is for children and young people (up to 18 years old).  This set of rights is generally known as the “United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child” and has been approved on the 20th of November 1989.  It is now an international agreement on which countries signed up to obey.  The Convention is consisted by 54 articles of which each one of them outlines a different article.  Once you are aware that a child’s right is being violated please report it immediately to the state authorities and help us make this world full of kids’ smiles.

1. Article 1: Everyone under the age of 18 has all the rights in this Convention.
2. Article 2: The Convention applies to everyone whatever their race, religion, abilities, whatever they think or say, no matter what type of family they come from.
3. Article 3:  All organizations concerned with children should work towards what is best for them.
4. Article 4: Governments should make these rights available to children.
5. Article 5: Governments should respect the rights and responsibilities of families to direct and guide their children so that, as they grow, they learn to use their rights properly.
6. Article 6: Children have the right to life.  Governments should ensure that children survive and develop healthily.
7. Article 7: Children have the right to a legally registered name and nationality.  They also have the right to know and, as far as possible, to be cared for by their parents.
8. Article 8: Governments should respect childrens’ right to a name, a nationality and family ties.
9. Article 9: Children should not be separated from their parents unless it is of their own good – for example, if a parent is mistreating or neglecting them.  If the parents are separated, the children have the right to stay in contact with both parents, unless this may harm them.
10. Article 10: Families who live in different countries should be allowed to move between those countries so that parents and children can stay in contact or get back together as a family.
11. Article 11: Governments should take steps to stop children being taken out of their own country illegally.
12. Article 12: Children have the right to say what they think should happen when adults are making decisions that affect them and to have their opinions taken into account.
13. Article 13: Children have the right to get and to share information as long as the information is not damaging to themselves or others.
14. Article 14: Children have the right to think and believe what they want and to practice their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights.  Parents should guide children on these matters.
15. Article 15: Children have the right to meet with other children and young people and to join groups and organizations, as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights.
16. Article 16: Children have the right to privacy.  The law should protect children from attacks against their way of life, their good name, their family and their home.
17. Article 17: Children have the right to reliable information from the mass media.  Television, radio and newspapers should provide information that they can understand and should not promote materials that can harm them.
18. Article 18: Both parents share responsibility for bringing up their children and should always consider what is best for each child.  Governments should help parents by providing services to support them, especially if both parents work.
19. Article 19: Governments should ensure that children are properly cared for and protect them from violence, abuse and neglect by their parents or anyone else who looks after them.
20. Article 20: If children cannot be looked after by their own family, they must be looked after properly by people who respect their religion, culture and language.
21. Article 21: If children are adopted, the first concern must be what is best for them.  The same rules should apply whether the adoption takes place in the country where the children were born or if they move to another country.
22. Article 22: If a child comes into a country as refugee he/she should have the same rights as children born in that country.
23. Article 23: If a child has a disability, he/she should receive special care and support so that he/she can live a full and independent life.
24. Article 24: Children have the right to good quality health care and to clean water, nutritious food and a clean environment so that they can stay healthy.  Rich countries should help poorer countries achieve this.
25. Article 25: If a child is looked after by the local authority rather than by his/her parents, he/she should have his/her situation reviewed regularly.
26. Article 26: The government should provide extra money for the children of families in need.
27. Article 27: Children have the right to a standard of living that is good enough to meet their physical and mental needs.  The government should help families who cannot afford to provide this.
28. Article 28: Children have the right to education.  Discipline in schools should respect children’s human dignity.  Primary education should be free.  Wealthy countries should help poorer countries achieve this.
29. Article 29: Education should develop a child’s personality and talents to the full.  It should encourage the child to respect his/her parents, his/her own and other cultures.
30. Article 30: Children have the right to learn and use the language and customs of their family whether or not these are shared by the majority of the people in the country where they live.
31. Article 31: Children have the right to relax, play and join in a wide range of activities.
32. Article 32: The government should protect children from work that is dangerous or might harm their health or education.
33. Article 33:  The government should provide ways of protecting children from dangerous drugs.
34. Article 34: The government should protect children from sexual abuse.
35. Article 35: The government should ensure that children are not abducted or sold.
36. Article 36: Children should be protected from any activities that could harm their development.
37. Article 37: If a child breaks the law, he/she should not be treated cruelly.  The child should not be put in prison with adults and he/she should be able to keep in contact with his/her family.
38. Article 38: Governments should not allow children under 16 to join the army.  In war zones, children should receive special protection.
39. Article 39: If a child has been neglected or abused, he/she should receive special help to restore his/her self-respect.
40. Article 40: If a child is accused of breaking the law, he/she should receive legal help.  Prison sentences for children should only be used for the most serious offences.
41. Article 41: If the laws of a particular country protect children better than the articles of the Convention, then those laws should stay.
42. Article 42: The government should make the Convention known to all parents and children.
43. Articles 43-54: Are about how adults and governments should work together to make sure all children get all their rights.