The UNCRC

All children are born with fundamental freedoms, which are the inherent rights of all human beings.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an international human rights treaty that sets out the basic rights of children and the obligations of governments to fulfill them.

It was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989 and within a year it entered into force as international law. 

Although there have been other international treaties and agreements about children's rights, the UNCRC is the only one to be ratified by 191 out of 193 countries - all except Somalia and the United States of America. This makes it the most widely and rapidly accepted human rights convention in history. It is the foundation of Save the Children’s work.

The UNCRC declares that children have a right to life, good health, education, a safe home, participation in decision-making and protection from abuse and exploitation.

It is guided by four fundamental principles: equality regardless of race, gender, language, religion or disability; the best interests of the child; survival, development and protection; and participation in decisions which affect children.

Read more about New Zealand and the UNCRC here