Do you know you have rights? Do you know there’s a law called the Convention on the Rights of the Child?
Your rights are what you’re allowed to do and what the people responsible for you must do to ensure you’re happy, healthy, and safe. Of course, you also have a responsibility towards other children and adults, so that they can have their rights too.
A Convention is an agreement between countries that they will respect the same law. When a country’s government accepts a Convention, it means it agrees to respect the law written in that Convention.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 1989 and contains standards that a signatory state must guarantee every child.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has accepted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This means that our government must now ensure that every child has all the rights set out in the Convention.
Each article of the Convention explains one of your rights. The Convention on the Rights of the Child was written for lawyers, so even adults have a hard time understanding it. We’ve decided to select some rights that we think are the most important and explain them in simple terms.
You have the right to know what your rights are—that’s what Article 42 of this Convention says!
Article 1.
Everyone under the age of 18 has all the rights in this Convention.Article 2.
You have these rights, regardless of who you are, who your parents are, the colour of your skin, your gender or religion, the language you speak, whether you have a disability, and whether you are rich or poor.Article 3.
Whenever an adult has anything to do with you, he or she must do what is best for you.Article 6.
Everyone must agree that you have the right to life.Article 7.
You have the right to have a name, and when you are born, your name, along with the names of your parents and your date of birth, must be officially recorded. You have the right to a nationality, the right to know who your parents are, and the right for them to care for you.Article 9.
You must not be separated from your parents unless it is for your own good. For example, if your parents hit you or don’t take care of you. Similarly, if your parents decide to live separately, even if you have to live with one of them, it is your right to be in contact with both.Article 10.
If you and your parents do not live in the same country, you have the right to join them and live in the same place.Article 11.
No one should abduct you, but if it happens, your country’s authorities must do everything to find and return you.Article 12.
Whenever adults make a decision that concerns you in any way, you have the right to state your opinion, which the adults must take seriously.Article 13.
You have the right to learn things and to say, write, or draw what you think, as long as it doesn’t violate someone else’s rights.Article 14.
You have the right to think whatever you want and to be of any religion you choose. Your parents should help you learn what is right and wrong.Article 15.
You have the right to meet, make friends, and form clubs with other people, as long as you don’t violate someone else’s rights.Article 16.
You have the right to a private life. This means, for example, that you can keep a diary that no one else is allowed to read.Article 17.
You have the right to get information from the radio, television, newspapers, books, etc., from all over the world. Adults must make sure that you receive information that you will understand.Article 18.
Your parents should raise you together and do what is best for you.Article 19.
No one may harm you in any way. Adults must ensure you are protected from abuse and neglect. Your parents are not allowed to harm you either.Article 20.
If you do not have parents, or if it is not safe for you to live with them, you have the right to special protection and assistance.Article 21.
If someone adopts you, adults must make sure that everything is done in your best interest.Article 22.
If you are a refugee (which means if you have to leave your country because you are not safe there), then you have the right to special protection and assistance.Article 23.
If you have developmental difficulties, either mental or physical, then you have the right to special care and education, which will help you grow up just like all other children.Article 24.
You have the right to good health. This means that when you are ill, you must receive professional care and medicine. Adults must do everything they can to prevent a child from getting sick by feeding and caring for them.Article 27.
You have the right to a good enough standard of living. This means your parents must ensure you have food, clothing, a place to live, etc. If your parents are unable to do this, the government of the country you live in must help you.Article 28.
You have the right to an education. Primary education must be free, and you must attend primary school. You should also have the option to attend secondary school.Article 29.
The purpose of your education is to develop your personality, talents, and your mental and physical abilities to the fullest possible extent. Education should also prepare you to lead a responsible and peaceful life in a free society, to understand the rights of other people, and to respect the environment.Article 30.
If you belong to a minority group, you have the right to maintain your own culture, practise your religion, and speak your language.Article 31.
You have the right to play.Članak 32.
You have the right to be protected from work in a place or under conditions that could harm your health or interfere with your education. If someone makes money from your work, they must pay you fairly.Article 33.
You have the right to be protected from illegal drugs and from work involving the production and sale of drugs.Article 34.
You have the right to be protected from sexual abuse. This means no one is allowed to persuade you to do things with your body or convince you that it’s okay. For example, no one is allowed to touch you, take pictures of you, or make you say things you don’t want to.Article 35.
No one may abduct or sell you.Article 37.
Even if you do something wrong, no one may punish you in a way that would be humiliating or severely injure you. You should never be put in prison except as a last resort, and if that happens, you have the right to special care and regular visits from your family.Article 38.
You have the right to protection during wartime. If you are under fifteen years of age, you must not be forced to join the army or fight in a war.Article 39.
If someone has harmed or neglected you in any way, for example, during a war, you have the right to special care and treatment.Article 40.
If you are accused of committing a crime, you have the right to defend yourself. The police, lawyers, and judges in court must treat you with respect and ensure you understand everything that is happening.Article 42.
All adults and all children must know about this Convention. You have the right to learn about your rights, and adults should do so too.This Convention on the Rights of the Child has a total of 54 articles, but most of the other articles talk about how adults and governments should work together to ensure that all children receive the rights that belong to them. Maybe you would also like to read the whole Convention. Talk about the Convention with your friends, parents, and teachers. If you want to talk about children’s rights with other people, you will also be helping other children yourself. The more people understand that children have rights, the more likely it is that all children will be helped to grow up healthy, safe, and free.
Child and Youth Protection Center of the City of Zagreb
