The Declaration of the Rights of the Child 1924, written under the League of Nations, recognized the rights of children in international law for the first time in 1924.

The child must be given the means requisite for its normal development, both materially and spiritually.

  1. The child that is hungry must be fed, the child that is sick must be nursed, the child that is backward must be helped, the delinquent child must be reclaimed, and the orphan and the waif must be sheltered and succored.
  2. The child must be the first to receive relief in times of distress.
  3. The child must be put in a position to earn a livelihood, and must be protected against every form of exploitation.
  4. The child must be brought up in the consciousness that its talents must be devoted to the service of its fellow men.

Second, in 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted ten principles of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child 1959. The Declaration of the Rights of the Child lays down ten principles (2):

  1. The right to equality, without distinction on account of race, religion or national origin.
  2. The right to special protection for the child’s physical, mental and social development.
  3. The right to a name and a nationality.
  4. The right to adequate nutrition, housing and medical services.
  5. The right to special education and treatment when a child is physically or mentally handicapped.
  6. The right to understanding and love by parents and society.
  7. The right to recreational activities and free education.
  8. The right to be among the first to receive relief in all circumstances.
  9. The right to protection against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation.
  10. The right to be brought up in a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship among peoples, and universal brotherhood.

The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 in 1989, and it was ratified by most of the member states with no votes against it. The Convention was adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by the United Nations General Assembly through resolution 44/25 on November 20, 1989. It came into force on September 2, 1990. As stated in Article 1, a child is defined as any human being under eighteen.

The CRC holds binding forces. It is a remarkable departure in field of Rights of the Child. In the CRC, the rights and responsibilities of the children have been clearly outlined, including survival, development, protection, and participation, as well as obligations to parents and families.

Four main principles

  1. Non-discrimination (article 2): All children have rights, regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
  2. Devotion to the best interests of the child (article 3): The child’s best interests must be a primary consideration in all decisions affecting her or him.
  3. The right to life, survival and development (article 6): All children have a right to life, and to survive and develop – physically, mentally, spiritually, morally, psychologically and socially – to their full potential.
  4. Respect for the views of the child (article 12): Children have the right to express themselves freely on matters that affect them, and to have their views taken seriously.