OTTAWA-On November 20, 2009, International Children's Rights Day celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Unanimously adopted on November 20, 1959, by the 78 member States of the United Nations at that time, this ethical policy statement, which is not binding on the States, was a real recognition of children's rights that gave rise to the Convention on the Rights of the Child exactly 30 years later.
The Declaration urges parents, women and men as individuals, volunteer agencies, local authorities, and national governments to recognize, without exception, the rights of every child to which the Convention gave, on November 20, 1989, the force of law in the contracting States. Nearly every country (191) has today ratified the Convention, which requires them to uphold the 54 articles that proclaim, among other things, every child's right to a name, a family, a nationality, an education, health, leisure, social security and protection against economic and sexual exploitation; the Convention also extends rights to juvenile delinquents and protection against capital punishment and recruitment into armed forces before the age of 15.
Upon reading this brief statement, it is readily apparent that to varying degrees worldwide, there remains a great deal to be done so that the rights of the child are fully understood, recognized and respected; so that the best interests of the child are always taken into account when governments make decisions that affect their development, well-being and safety. It is imperative that our children have a say. Let us give them a voice. Let us listen to them, love them. I have made them a priority of my mandate.
Michaëlle Jean
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Media Information:
Marie-Ève Létourneau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-0287
meletourneau@gg.ca
www.gg.ca
www.citizenvoices.gg.ca
