The Convention deals with the child-specific needs and rights.

It requires that states act in the best

interests of the child. This approach is different from the common law approach found in many
countries that had previously treated children as possessions or chattels, ownership of which was
sometimes argued over in family disputes.

In many jurisdictions, properly implementing the Convention requires an overhaul of child

custody and guardianship laws, or, at the very least, a creative approach within the existing
laws. The Convention acknowledges that every child has certain basic rights, including the right to
life, his or her own name and identity, to be raised by his or her parents within a family or cultural
grouping, and to have a relationship with both parents, even if they are separated.

The Convention obliges states to allow parents to exercise their parental responsibilities. The
Convention also acknowledges that children have the right to express their opinions and to have
those opinions heard and acted upon when appropriate, to be protected from abuse or exploitation,
and to have their privacy protected, and it requires that their lives not be subject to excessive
interference.

The Convention also obliges signatory states to provide separate legal representation for a child in
any judicial dispute concerning their care and asks that the child's viewpoint be heard in such cases.

The Convention forbids capital punishment for children. In its General Comment 8 (2006) the
Committee on the Rights of the Child stated that there was an "obligation of all state parties to move
quickly to prohibit and eliminate all corporal punishment and all other cruel or degrading forms of
punishment of children".[12] Article 19 of the Convention states that state parties must "take all
appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all
forms of physical or mental violence",[13] but it makes no explicit reference to corporal punishment.
The Committee's interpretation of this section to encompass a prohibition on corporal punishment
has been rejected by several state parties to the Convention, including Australia, [14] Canada and the
United Kingdom.

The European Court of Human Rights has referred to the Convention when interpreting
the European Convention on Human Rights.[15]

THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD Guiding principles: general

requirements for all rights

Non-discrimination (Article 2): The Convention applies to all children, whatever their
race, religion or abilities; whatever they think or say, whatever type of family they
come from. It doesnt matter where children live, what language they speak, what
their parents do, whether they are boys or girls, what their culture is, whether they
have a disability or whether they are rich or poor. No child should be treated unfairly
on any basis.
Best interests of the child
(Article 3): The best interests of children must be the primary concern in making
decisions that may affect them. All adults should do what is best for children. When
adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect
children. This particularly applies to budget, policy and law makers.
Right to life, survival and development
(Article 6): Children have the right to live. Governments should ensure that children
survive and develop healthily.
Respect for the views of the child
(Article 12): When adults are making decisions that affect children, children have
the right to say what they think should happen and have their opinions taken into
account. This does not mean that children can now tell their parents what to do.
This Convention encourages adults to listen to the opinions of children and involve
them in decision-making -- not give children authority over adults. Article 12 does
not interfere with parents' right and responsibility to express their views on matters
affecting their children. Moreover, the Convention recognizes that the level of a
childs participation in decisions must be appropriate to the child's level of maturity.
Children's ability to form and express their opinions develops with age and most
adults will naturally give the views of teenagers greater weight than those of a
preschooler, whether in family, legal or administrative decisions.

THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD Survival and development rights:
the basic rights to life, survival and development of ones full potential
Article 4 (Protection of rights): Governments have a responsibility to take all
available measures to make sure childrens rights are respected, protected and
fulfilled. When countries ratify the Convention, they agree to review their laws
relating to children. This involves assessing their social services, legal, health and
educational systems, as well as levels of funding for these services. Governments
are then obliged to take all necessary steps to ensure that the minimum standards
set by the Convention in these areas are being met. They must help families protect
childrens rights and create an environment where they can grow and reach their
potential. In some instances, this may involve changing existing laws or creating
new ones. Such legislative changes are not imposed, but come about through the
same process by which any law is created or reformed within a country. Article 41 of
the Convention points out the when a country already has higher legal standards
than those seen in the Convention, the higher standards always prevail. (See
Optional Protocol pages.)
 Article 5 (Parental guidance): Governments should respect the rights and
responsibilities of families to direct and guide their children so that, as they grow,
they learn to use their rights properly. Helping children to understand their rights
does not mean pushing them to make choices with consequences that they are too
young to handle. Article 5 encourages parents to deal with rights issues "in a
manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child". The Convention does
not take responsibility for children away from their parents and give more authority
to governments. It does place on governments the responsibility to protect and
assist families in fulfilling their essential role as nurturers of children.
Article 6 (Survival and development): Children have the right to live. Governments
should ensure that children survive and develop healthily.
Article 7 (Registration, name, nationality, care): All children have the right to a
legally registered name, officially recognised by the government. Children have the
right to a nationality (to belong to a country). Children also have the right to know
and, as far as possible, to be cared for by their parents.
Article 8 (Preservation of identity): Children have the right to an identity an official
record of who they are. Governments should respect childrens right to a name, a
nationality and family ties.
Article 9 (Separation from parents): Children have the right to live with their
parent(s), unless it is bad for them. Children whose parents do not live together
have the right to stay in contact with both parents, unless this might hurt the child.
Article 10 (Family reunification): Families whose members live in different countries
should be allowed to move between those countries so that parents and children
can stay in contact, or get back together as a family.
Article 14 (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion): Children have the right to
think and believe what they want and to practise their religion, as long as they are
not stopping other people from enjoying their rights. Parents should help guide their
children in these matters. The Convention respects the rights and duties of parents
in providing religious and moral guidance to their children. Religious groups around
the world have expressed support for the Convention, which indicates that it in no
way prevents parents from bringing their children up within a religious tradition. At
the same time, the Convention recognizes that as children mature and are able to
form their own views, some may question certain religious

Article 12 (Respect for the views of the child): When adults are making decisions that
affect children,
children have the right to say what they think should happen and have their opinions taken
into account.
This does not mean that children can now tell their parents what to do. This Convention
encourages
adults to listen to the opinions of children and involve them in decision-making -- not give
children
authority over adults. Article 12 does not interfere with parents' right and responsibility to
express their
views on matters affecting their children. Moreover, the Convention recognizes that the level
of a childs
participation in decisions must be appropriate to the child's level of maturity. Children's
ability to form and
express their opinions develops with age and most adults will naturally give the views of
teenagers
greater weight than those of a preschooler, whether in family, legal or administrative
decisions.

Article 12 (Respect for the views of the child): When adults are making decisions that
affect children,
children have the right to say what they think should happen and have their opinions taken
into account.

The right of the child to be heard

Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child provides:
1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own
views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the
child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.
2. For this purpose the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard
in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a
representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of
national law.

it addresses the legal and social status of children, who, on

the one hand lack the full autonomy of adults but, on the other, are subjects of rights.
Paragraph 1 assures, to every child capable of forming his or her own views, the right to express
those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due
weight in accordance with age and maturity. Paragraph 2 states, in particular, that the child shall
be afforded the right to be heard in any judicial or administrative proceedings affecting him or
her.

The child, however, has the right not to exercise this right. Expressing views is a
choice for
the child, not an obligation. States parties have to ensure that the child receives all
necessary
information and advice to make a decision in favour of her or his best interests.

The Convention states that everyone under the age of 18 (the definition of a child), regardless of gender, origin,
religion or possible disabilities, needs special care and protection because children are often the most vulnerable.

Guiding principles:
Although the Convention has 54 articles in all, it is guided by four fundamental principles.
 Non-discrimination (article 2): You should neither benefit nor suffer because of your race, colour, gender,
language, religion, or national, social or ethnic origin, or because of any political or other opinion; because of
your caste, property or birth status; or because you are disabled.

The best interests of the child (article 3): Laws and actions affecting children should put your best interests
first and benefit you in the best possible way.

Survival, development and protection (article 6): The authorities in your country must protect you and help
ensure your full development physical, spiritual, moral and social.

Participation (article 12): You have a right to have your say in decisions that affect you, and to have you
opinions taken into account.