22. Refugee children
Children who move from their home country to another country as refugees (because it was not safe for them to stay there) should get help and protection and have the same rights as children born in that country.
23. Children with disabilities
Every child with a disability should enjoy the best possible life in society. Governments should remove all obstacles for children with disabilities to become independent and to participate actively in the community.
24. Health, water, food, environment
Children have the right to the best health care possible, clean water to drink, healthy food and a clean and safe environment to live in. All adults and children should have information about how to stay safe and healthy.
25. Review of a child's placement
Every child who has been placed somewhere away from home - for their care, protection or health – should have their situation checked regularly to see if everything is going well and if this is still the best place for the child to be.
26. Social and economic help
Governments should provide money or other support to help children from poor families.
27. Food, clothing, a safe home
Children have the right to food, clothing and a safe place to live so they can develop in the best possible way. The government should help families and children who cannot afford this.
28. Access to education
Every child has the right to an education. Primary education should be free. Secondary and higher education should be available to every child. Children should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level possible. Discipline in schools should respect children’s rights and never use violence.
29. Aims of education
Children’s education should help them fully develop their personalities, talents and abilities. It should teach them to understand their own rights, and to respect other people’s rights, cultures and differences. It should help them to live peacefully and protect the environment.
30. Minority culture, language and religion
Children have the right to use their own language, culture and religion - even if these are not shared by most people in the country where they live.
31. Rest, play, culture, arts
Every child has the right to rest, relax, play and to take part in cultural and creative activities.
32. Protection from harmful work
Children have the right to be protected from doing work that is dangerous or bad for their education, health or development. If children work, they have the right to be safe and paid fairly.
33. Protection from harmful drugs
Governments must protect children from taking, making, carrying or selling harmful drugs.
34. Protection from sexual abuse
The government should protect children from sexual exploitation (being taken advantage of) and sexual abuse, including by people forcing children to have sex for money, or making sexual pictures or films of them.
35. Prevention of sale and trafficking
Governments must make sure that children are not kidnapped or sold, or taken to other countries or places to be exploited (taken advantage of).
36. Protection from exploitation
Children have the right to be protected from all other kinds of exploitation (being taken advantage of), even if these are not specifically mentioned in this Convention.
37. Children in detention
Children who are accused of breaking the law should not be killed, tortured, treated cruelly, put in prison forever, or put in prison with adults. Prison should always be the last choice and only for the shortest possible time. Children in prison should have legal help and be able to stay in contact with their family.
38. Protection in war
Children have the right to be protected during war. No child under 15 can join the army or take part in war.
39. Recovery and reintegration
Children have the right to get help if they have been hurt, neglected, treated badly or affected by war, so they can get back their health and dignity.
40. Children who break the law
Children accused of breaking the law have the right to legal help and fair treatment. There should be lots of solutions to help these children become good members of their communities. Prison should only be the last choice.
41. Best law for children applies
If the laws of a country protect children’s rights better than this Convention, then those laws should be used.
42. Everyone must know children's rights
Governments should actively tell children and adults about this Convention so that everyone knows about children’s rights.
43 to 54. How the Convention works
These articles explain how governments, the United Nations – including the Committee on the Rights of the Child and UNICEF - and other organisations work to make sure all children enjoy all their rights.
Explanation:
