Child rights
All children have the same human rights as everyone else. Children also need additional rights because they:
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are still growing and learning about the world, and
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have less power than adults.
International human rights law recognises that children require extra protection against exploitation, provision for growth and development (through health and education), and participation in decisions made on their behalf. These laws are found in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Some of the most important child rights principles are:
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that adults should act in, and promote the ‘best interests’ of the child
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that children’s opinions should be taken into account wherever possible, and
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that all children should be treated equally.
The rights of children can be protected in many situations. For example:
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At home, parents provide care, shelter, nutrition and protection for children.
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At school/ day care, teachers and school staff are responsible for protecting children and for providing children with opportunities to participate and give their opinion.
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In the community, children can participate in cultural or sporting activities with parents, teachers, care workers, sporting organisations, local neighbourhood groups and/ or community leaders.
For information on the Australian Human Rights Commissions response to children’s rights click here
Australian Human Rights Commission teaching and learning activities around children’s rights:
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Activity 2: Getting to know the Convention on the Rights of the Child
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Activity 3: Zarah’s situation: A last resort
External resources
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Global Education Children learn active citizenship in Bangladesh
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Right to protection
NSW Department of Education Curriculum Support- CRC -
QLD Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG) Children’s rights, children’s lives
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Child friendly version of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
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UNICEF Australia Educational web links
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World Vision Get Connected
Some ethical considerations when communicating with children include:
Protect children from any additional risks |
Respect children’s dignity |
Ask children’s permission to use their stories and pictures (not just
the permission of adults, even if they are parents) |
Respect children’s decisions if they refuse to be interviewed or
photographed |
Use the best possible information |
Do not use negative, degrading or stigmatising images of children in
pictures or in words |
Do not identify children or groups of children unless they have given their
permission and you can be sure that they will be protected from further
exploitation |
Do not exaggerate, or use unnecessarily emotional language |
Do not make promises to children that you cannot keep |
Do not raise expectations that you cannot fulfil |
From Regional Working Group on Child Labour (RWG-CL) ‘Child Labour: Getting the message across’ 2001
For relevant publications click here
For relevant speeches click here
For relevant submissions from the Australian Human Rights Commission click here
Lodge a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission on 1300 656 419 or click here
Updated November 20, 2008 .