about children's rights and how a children's rights approach can become part of child protection efforts. It offers an

introductory overview of children's rights, useful links and my 12-step children's rights guideline for child protection.

RIGHTS NOW	LINK THIS
What are Human Rights? "A right is something to which one has a just claim; something that one may properly claim as due." (Webster's dictionary) Human rights are generally defined as rights which are inherent in our nature and without which we cannot live fully as human beings. Human rights are called universal because they apply to all human beings, without exception. The purpose of human rights is to foster the conditions which allow us to fully develop and use our human qualities, our intelligence, our talents and our conscience and to satisfy our spiritual and other needs. Human rights are based on people's increasing demand for a life in which the inherent dignity and worth of each human being will receive respect and protection. The notion of human dignity is central to all pursuits of human rights.	United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: http://www.unhchr.ch/   UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS: http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/index.htm   Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org/
What are Children's Rights?   When we talk about the rights of children, we mean human rights as they relate specifically to the of children. The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is the broadest and most widely endorsed children's rights instrument worldwide, defines children as all persons aged 18 and under. Hence, children's rights apply universally to all persons 18 and under (with the exception of countries where the age of majority is obtained earlier).   While human rights certainly apply to all human beings, children need human rights tailored to their special needs and vulnerabilities. That is why children have children's rights, in addition to human rights.	Child Rights Information Network: http://www.crin.org/       International Save the Children Alliance: http://www.savethechildren.net/
Some children's rights are in fact the same as the rights every person has regardless of age: protection from torture, access to health care and freedom of expression and association. Most of the children's rights recognized in the U.N. Convention, however, address the specific needs of children: rights regarding primary education, opportunities for play, and adoption. Others take into account the inherent vulnerability of children, such as the right to protection from abuse and neglect (Article 19), from economic exploitation, i.e. child labor (Article 32), and from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse (Article 34). Just as human rights are universal in that they apply to all human beings simply for being humans, children's rights are also universal and therefore apply to all children everywhere in the world, regardless of nationality, creed, religion, circumstances.   Defense for Children International (DCI) is a leading organization in the area of children's rights. It played a major role in the creation of the UN Convention. It is set up to ensure on-going practical, systematic and concerted international action is specifically directed towards promoting and protecting the rights of the child. In order to help all those individual organisations working for the legal and social defence of children DCI has produced a kit on the Rights of the Child. to help readers better understand the legal texts .An electronic version of the kit is available.	Defense for Children International: dci-hq@pingnet.ch
The right to Protection from Armed Conflict and Displacement In a world where wars are constantly being fought between countries and internally, what happens to the children of war? Initiatives are needed to stop the use of child soldiers, campaign are needed to ban land mines, and people are needed to advocate for the rights of refugee and displaced children and promote the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. There are organisations whose sole purpose is working to enforce the rights of children involved in armed conflict and displacement.	Desk on Children in Armed Conflict and Displacement: http://www.crin.org/war.htm
The Right to Protection from the Internet Another right which is not specifically covered in the UN Convention but which has risen to the forefront of our consciousness: the need to protect children from the negative potential of the internet. Protection against internet pedophiles, pornographic materials, violent sites, etc... Some individuals and organizations are beginning to organize in order around the child's right to "cyber" protection: Childnet International is such an group. It is a non-profit organisation, concerned to enable children to benefit from all the changes in international communications, and to protect them from any negative influences.	Childnet International: http://www.childnet.mdx.ac.uk/chi ldnet/
The Right to Vote ? An issue which is not covered in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is that of Children's Sufferage. Should children be allowed to vote? A number of child rights advocates think so. If children should vote, at what age? And, more fundamentally, why? Proponents of children's right to vote contend that those who do not vote (i.e., children) are unlikely to have their interests protected because their needs will be seriously overshadowed by political decision-makers. After all, politicians place great importance of their constituents' lobby efforts, and children, well, don't have the political clout to compete. "The fundamental problem is that our political system fails to provide a mechanism that lets the interests of children to be represented. In modern democratic societies like the United States, political power derives from the vote. Those who can vote are able to assure that their needs and interests are protected. Yet, children are unable to vote." (Assoc. for Children's Suffrage) "Obviously before they develop the cognitive skills and emotional maturity necessary for making difficult political judgments, children cannot be expected to vote. Perhaps these children should have their right to vote exercised by proxy. We could assign their proxy to their principal care giver. If children were given the franchise, then their interests and needs would receive attention equal to other groups in democratic society." (Duncan Lindsay, Uof Calif.)	Association for Children's Suffrage: http:// www.brown.edu/Students/Association_for_Childrens_Suffrage/   KidsVote: http://www.childwelfare.com /kids/kidsvote.htm
The Right to Both Parents Some children's rights advocate spend their time & energy fighting for children to be able to have both parents involved in their lives, and also their extended families. This is an issue which becomes huge in the case where parents separate, divorce, re-marry, move away, or when one parent dies. Formed in 1985, the Children's Rights Council (CRC) is a national non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that works to assure children meaningful and continuing contact with both their parents and extended family regardless of the parents' marital status.	Children's Rights Council: http://www.vix.com/crc/   The Alliance for Non-Custodial Parents Rights: http://www.ancpr.org/
All children have the right to health, decent living conditions including access to shelter, drinking water, and sanitary conditions.	Unicef: http://www.unicef.org/
All children have the right to education	Educate the Children: ETC-Ithaca@aol.com
20th Century Landmarks in the Children's Rights Movement:   1923 The Save the Children International Union draws up and approves the Declaration of the Rights of the Child - commonly known as the Declaration of Geneva - a five point statement of basic child welfare and protection principles.   1924 The Fifth Assembly of the League of Nations in Geneva endorses the Declaration of Geneva, inviting members to be guided by its principles.   1948 The newly formed United Nations approves a slightly expanded text of the Declaration.   1959 A new 10-point Declaration of the Rights of the Child is promulgated by the United Nations General Assembly on November 20th.   1978 The Government of Poland tables the first draft text of a Convention on the Rights of the Child.   1979 The International Year of the Child. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights considers the Polish proposal, and sets up a Working Group to review it and produce a final draft.           Website created by: Claire Bedard Direct all enquiries to:   cb53@cornell.edu	1983 Several non-governmental organisations form the NGO Ad Hoc Group to maximize their contribution to the UN Working Group's efforts, and over the years have an unprecedented impact on the formulation of the Convention.   1989 The Working Group submits the final drat text to the Commission o Human Rights, and on November 20th -- 30 years to the day after the approval of the 1959 Declaration -- the United Nations adopts the Convention on the Rights of the Child.   1990 The Convention on the Rights of the Child enters into force on September 2nd.   1995 The U.S.A. signs the Convention on the Rights of the Child on February 16th.   ??? (still to come) The U.S.A. will ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.   [Adapted from Defense for Chidren International's pamphlet "Children's Rights AND YOU".]