The International Convention on the Rights of the Child and of Adolescents was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 20 November 1989 and, to date, is the treaty on human rights boasting the highest number of ratifications. A total of 196 states have legally bound themselves, through the ratification process, to respecting the rights acknowledged in it.
The convention states that children and teenagers under the age of 18 have a series of rights which must be respected and safeguarded by adults everywhere, regardless of the colour of their skin, the language they speak, their religion or whether they have any kind of disability.
Let's take a look at the most important rights set forth in the convention:
- The right not to be discriminated against and not to be put at a disadvantage because you were born either a boy or a girl
- The right to a name and a future, meaning that grown-ups must always do their best for boys and girls alike
- The right to a family and a home: parents must take care of their children
- The right to think what you want and express your ideas freely in words or any other way
- The right to meet other people and make friends while always respecting others
- The right to play
- The right to be protected in the event of danger and to be taken care of in the event of illness
- The right to receive all the food and clothes that you need
- The right to receive an education, therefore to go to school, to learn about new things and discover one's own talents and skills
Talking about rights is very important because not only does it help us to realise that we have them, but it makes others aware of the fact that respecting these rights is a vital step to us becoming healthy, confident and free. Improving the world means improving our everyday life. Even the tiniest gesture is important to grow!
Contents and Artwork by Lorenzo Naia www.latatamaschio.it and Roberta Rossetti www.robertarossetti.it
