When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children. All adults should do what is best for children. Governments should make sure children are protected and looked after by their parents, or by other people when this is needed. Governments should make sure that people and places responsible for looking after children are doing a good job.
All children and young people have rights, and your rights should always be respected. You have them no matter where you are from, how old you are, what you believe, or how you choose to live your life.
Your best interests must always come first,
You should always be treated fairly, and
Your views must always be considered and considered in all matters affecting you.
Adults must respect and protect your human rights when they plan services, make policies and make decisions.
For children and young people being supported by social workers, there are some rights you should know about:
3. Best interests of the child
9. Keeping families together
Children should not be separated from their parents unless they are not being properly looked after – for example, if a parent hurts or does not take care of a child. Children whose parents don’t live together should stay in contact with both parents unless this might harm the child.
12. Respect for children's views
Children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues that affect them. Adults should listen and take children seriously.
19. Protection from violence
Governments must protect children from violence, abuse and being neglected by anyone who looks after them.
20. Children without families
Every child who cannot be looked after by their own family has the right to be looked after properly by people who respect the child’s religion, culture, language and other aspects of their life.
21. Children who are adopted
When children are adopted, the most important thing is to do what is best for them. If a child cannot be properly looked after in their own country - for example by living with another family then they might be adopted in another country.
22. Refugee children
Children who move from their home country to another country as refugees (because it was not safe for them to stay there) should get help and protection and have the same rights as children born in that country.
23. Children with disabilities
Every child with a disability should enjoy the best possible life in society. Governments should remove all obstacles for children with disabilities to become independent and to participate actively in the community.
25. Review of a child's placement
Every child who has been placed somewhere away from home - for their care, protection or health should have their situation checked regularly to see if everything is going well and if this is still the best place for the child to be.
27. Food, clothing, a safe home
Children have the right to food, clothing and a safe place to live so they can develop in the best possible way. The government should help families and children who cannot afford this.
33. Protection from harmful drugs
Governments must protect children from taking, making, carrying or selling harmful drugs.
34. Protection from sexual abuse
The government should protect children from sexual exploitation (being taken advantage of) and sexual abuse, including by people forcing children to have sex for money, or making sexual pictures or films of them.
36. Protection from exploitation
Children have the right to be protected from all other kinds of exploitation (being taken advantage of), even if these are not specifically mentioned in this Convention.