Children’s Rights

Today is National Child Day. It marks Canada’s adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). There are 54 articles in the Convention that outline children’s rights and the obligations of adults and governments. What do you know about children’s rights?

Do children have the right to play?

If in doubt, let them out – children have the right to play reminds us that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child includes the right of children to “engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child”.

What are the other children’s rights?

Download the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in child-friendly language.

What can we do to support children’s rights?

Find suggestions for supporting the rights of children in the early years, the middle years, and youth from the Society for Children and Youth of BC.

Did you know there’s a Canadian Children’s Charter?

Click here to see the Charter.

How are we doing in Canada? What could we do to improve?

Find links to government and alternative reports and reviews in the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children Government Report and Review Process page, including Raising Canada 2020: Top 10 Threats to Childhood in Canada and the Impact of COVID-19, which applies a child rights framework to each of the top ten threats to Canadian children’s health and well-being.

Where can you learn more about children’s rights in Canada?

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