41 Substantive Articles in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Summary of the 41 substantive articles in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

  • Article 1: Definition of child (under 18 years)
  • Article 2: Freedom from discrimination
  • Article 3: Best interests considered and protected
  • Article 4: States must undertake measures to implement the CRC to the “maximum extent of their available resources”
  • Article 5: Provision of parental guidance and direction in a manner consistent with the child’s evolving capacity
  • Article 6: Life and maximum survival and development
  • Article 7: Name, nationality, and to know and be cared for by parents
  • Article 8: Preservation of identity, name, nationality, and family relations
  • Article 9: Not to be separated from parents without having their views known
  • Article 10: Family reunification: right to enter or leave a country for family reunification
  • Article 11: Combat protection from illicit transfer and non-return of children abroad
  • Article 12: Participation and have views considered
  • Article 13: Freedom of expression
  • Article 14: Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion
  • Article 15: Freedom of association and peaceful assembly
  • Article 16: Protection of privacy
  • Article 17: Right to information
  • Article 18: Parents joint responsibilities assisted by the State
  • Article 19: Protection from all forms of violence
  • Article 20: Special protection for children deprived of their family environment, whether temporary or permanent
  • Article 21: Adoptions only in the best interests of the child
  • Article 22: Protection and humanitarian assistance for refugee children
  • Article 23: Right of disabled child to dignity, self-reliance and the facilitation of active participation in the community: special treatment, education, care
  • Article 24: Provide child with the highest attainable standard of health
  • Article 25: Right of child placed in care to periodic review of their treatment
  • Article 26: Right to benefit from social security
  • Article 27: Right to an adequate standard of living
  • Article 28: Right to education
  • Article 29: Right to education that develops respect for human rights, their identity and democracy
  • Article 30: Right of minority or indigenous children to their culture, language and religion
  • Article 31: Right to leisure and play
  • Article 32: Right to appropriate working conditions and freedom from hazardous work or economic exploitation
  • Article 33: Protection from drug use, production and trafficking
  • Article 34: Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse
  • Article 35: Protection from abduction, sale, and trafficking for any purpose or in any form
  • Article 36: Protection from all other forms of exploitation
  • Article 37: Protection from torture, degrading treatment, and deprivation of liberty
  • Article 38: Protection for children in armed conflict: no hostilities for child under 15 years old
  • Article 39: Right of rehabilitation and reintegration for mistreated, neglected or exploited child victims
  • Article 40: Rights of the accused child in the criminal justice system
  • Article 41: Protects respect for existing human rights standar