Children of the World
* How are they faring?
Name and nationality
From the day you are born you have the right to have a name and to be registered as a citizen of your home country.
Every year, 133 million children are born. Around 48 million of these children are never registered. There is no documented proof that they exist.
Survive and grow
You have the right to life. Every country that has ratified the rights of the child must do all it can to allow children to survive and develop.
1 in 13 children (1 in 6 in the poorest countries) dies before reaching the age of 5, usually due to causes that could have been prevented.
Health and health care
You have the right to food, clean water and medical care.
Every day 29,000 children under the age of 5 (10.5 million a year) die of illnesses caused by lack of food, clean water, hygiene and health care. Vaccinations against the most common childhood illnesses help save 3 million lives a year. But 1 in 4 children is never vaccinated. Every year, 2 million children die of diseases that can be prevented by vaccinations. Half of all these children do not have access to clean water.
Home, clothing, food and security
You have the right to a home, food, clothing, education, health care and security.
3 out of 4 of the world’s children live in poverty. Around 600 million children have less than 1 US dollar (0.50 UK pounds) a day to live on. An additional 900 million live on less than 2 US dollars a day.Children with disabilities
If you have a disability you have the same rights as everyone else. You have a right to support to enable you to play an active role in society.
Children with disabilities are among the most vulnerable in the world. In many countries they are not allowed to go to school. Many are treated like inferior beings and are kept hidden away. There are 150 million children with disabilities in the world.
Children who live on the street
You have the right to live in a safe environment. All children have the right to education, medical care and a decent standard of living.
For 60 million children, the streets are their only home. An additional 90 million work and spend the day on the street but return home to their families in the evenings.
Hazardous child labour
You have the right to be protected from economic exploitation and work that is hazardous to your health or that prevents you from going to school. All work is prohibited for children under 12.
Around 200 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 work, and for 3 out of 4 of them, this work is harmful to their safety, health, morals and schooling. Some 8.4 million children are forced into the worst forms of child labour, as debt slaves, child soldiers and prostitutes. Every year, 1.2 million children are “trafficked”’ in the modern day slave trade.
Protection from violence
You have the right to protection from all forms of violence, neglect, maltreatment and abuse.
Every year 40 million children are beaten so badly that they need medical care. 19 countries have forbidden all forms of corporal punishment for children, so only 2 out of 100 children are fully protected from violence by law. Many countries still allow corporal punishment in schools.
Crime and punishment
Children may only be imprisoned as a last resort and for the shortest possible time. No child may be subjected to torture or other cruel treatment. Children who have committed crimes should be given care and help. Children may not be sentenced to life imprisonment or receive the death penalty.
At least 1 million children are being held in prison. Imprisoned children are often treated badly.
Minority children
Children who belong to minority groups or indigenous peoples have the right to their language, culture and religion. Examples of indigenous peoples include Native Americans, Aborigines in Australia and the Sami people of Northern Europe.
The rights of indigenous and minority children are often violated. Their languages are not respected and they are bullied or discriminated against. Many children do not have access to medical care.
Protection in war and flight
You have the right to protection and care in times of war or if you are a refugee. Children affected by conflict and refugee children have the same rights as other children.
Over the last 15 years at least 2 million children have been killed in war. 10 million have received serious physical injuries. 1 million have lost or become separated from their parents. 300,000 children have been used as soldiers (8000 children are killed or injured by mines every year). At least 20 million children have had to flee their homes or countries.
School and education
You have the right to go to school. Primary and secondary schooling should be free for everyone. More than 8 out of 10 children in the world go to school, but 117 million children still do not get education . Nearly 6 out of 10 of them are girls. Over 150 million children, 100 million of the girls leave school before the fifth grade.
Your voice must be heard!
You have the right to say what you think about any issue that affects you. Adults should listen to the child’s opinion before they make decisions, which must always be for the child’s best.
Is this how things are in your country and in the world today? You and the rest of the world’s children know best!