Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of the Child began with a draft developed by Poland in 1979. It became a Convention in 1989 and received near universal ratification. Among its claims are: The child has a right to life; the state must pay attention to what is best for the child; children have the right to consent and to have their voices heard; and states must ensure the physical protection and intellectual development of the child. Other debates raised in this chapter include: What age constitutes childhood? Is the notion of a care-free childhood of learning a Western norm? This chapter is part of Module 3: International Human Rights Frameworks and Marginal Groups.