CHI - Children's rights

The rights of children
Protecting children's rights and addressing violations of these rights is at the core of the work of child helplines everywhere.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child
All children deserve to have their rights respected and protected, no matter where they are and what their circumstances are. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the basis of the network's work. The Convention outlines the rights that children have, such as the right to a family life, the right to education and the right to development of their potential. The Convention was adopted in 1989 and has been signed by 191 countries, more than any other United Nations treaty.

Children's rights and child helplines
Child helplines all around the world are working to protect the rights of children outlined in the Convention. They provide a listening ear, counselling, referral and, if needed, intervention to address the violation of child rights. If needed, child helplines assist in the prosecution of suspects. Additionally, child helplines are active in prevention activities, for example through educational projects in schools. The objective of these activities is to heighten the awareness of their rights and to build their confidence and resilience.

The Convention and advocacy
The Convention is the basis for the advocacy work of the network and Secretariat. CHI has a close working relationship with the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The Committee monitors the implementation of the Convention in all countries that have signed the Convention. In partnership with child helplines, CHI contributes to the country reviews carried out by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The UNCRC is an international treaty that outlines the basic rights to which every child is entitled. Linking data with the CRC recommendations is important for the future of child policy at the UN level. In 2004, CHI began submitting recommendations to the Committee on behalf of its members in support of child helplines. The recommendations rely on the data supplied by the member helpline. Between 2004 and 2008, the Committee highlighted in their concluding observations to 39 national governments the need to build or strengthen child helplines.

The complete text of the Convention can be found here.

For information on the regular sessions of the Committee, please visit the dedicated page of the Committee.

General Comments
The Committee also produces General Comments to the Convention. These General Comments provide a backdrop to the Convention and outline how the Committee interprets a particular right in the Convention. In July 2009, the Committee recognised the essential role that child helplines have in realising the Right of Children to be Heard in General Comment no. 12. In paragraph 120, the Committee states:
'Much of the violence perpetrated against children goes unchallenged both because certain forms of abusive behaviour are understood by children as accepted practices and due to the lack of child-friendly reporting mechanisms. For example, they have no one to whom they can report in confidence and safety about experienced maltreatment, such as corporal punishment, genital mutilation or early marriage, and no channel to communicate their general observations to those accountable for implementation of their rights. Thus, effective inclusion of children in protective measures requires that children be informed about their right to be heard and to grow up free from all forms of physical and psychological violence. States parties should oblige all children’s institutions to establish easy access to individuals or organizations to which they can report in confidence and safety, including through telephone helplines, and to provide places where children can contribute their experience and views on combating violence against children.'

For more information, please visit the dedicated page of the Committee.

The twentieth anniversary of the Convention
In 2009 the Convention is celebrating its twentieth anniversary. Events will be held all around the world to mark this occasion. CHI will also participate in the celebrations. Child helplines around the world will use the anniversary to call attention to the rights of children and the violations that are occuring in their country.
On 9 December the CHI Secretariat will host an open house at its offices in Amsterdam from 16.00hrs until 20.00hrs to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. If you would like to attend this open house please send us an email.

For more information on the 20th anniversary, please visit the dedicated pages of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and Unicef.

top


	Our work \| Building child helplines Member services Advocacy Children's rights International declarations on child helplines Data and Connecting to Children Violence Against Children Telecoms Objectives CHI network \| Child helpline members Membership criteria Governance Structure The CHI Secretariat Supervisory Board Taskforces and groups How it began Donors Our donors In-kind support Partner organisations Member area \| Publications \| Annual Report Connecting to Children CHI VAC Report Manuals and Guidelines All CHI Newsletters CHI Glossary News \| Events \| FAQs FAQ about child helplines Complaint procedure How you can help Vacancies Press Contact		EN \| عربي \| ESP \| FR


	The rights of children Protecting children's rights and addressing violations of these rights is at the core of the work of child helplines everywhere. The Convention on the Rights of the Child All children deserve to have their rights respected and protected, no matter where they are and what their circumstances are. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the basis of the network's work. The Convention outlines the rights that children have, such as the right to a family life, the right to education and the right to development of their potential. The Convention was adopted in 1989 and has been signed by 191 countries, more than any other United Nations treaty. Children's rights and child helplines Child helplines all around the world are working to protect the rights of children outlined in the Convention. They provide a listening ear, counselling, referral and, if needed, intervention to address the violation of child rights. If needed, child helplines assist in the prosecution of suspects. Additionally, child helplines are active in prevention activities, for example through educational projects in schools. The objective of these activities is to heighten the awareness of their rights and to build their confidence and resilience. The Convention and advocacy The Convention is the basis for the advocacy work of the network and Secretariat. CHI has a close working relationship with the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The Committee monitors the implementation of the Convention in all countries that have signed the Convention. In partnership with child helplines, CHI contributes to the country reviews carried out by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The UNCRC is an international treaty that outlines the basic rights to which every child is entitled. Linking data with the CRC recommendations is important for the future of child policy at the UN level. In 2004, CHI began submitting recommendations to the Committee on behalf of its members in support of child helplines. The recommendations rely on the data supplied by the member helpline. Between 2004 and 2008, the Committee highlighted in their concluding observations to 39 national governments the need to build or strengthen child helplines. The complete text of the Convention can be found here. For information on the regular sessions of the Committee, please visit the dedicated page of the Committee. General Comments The Committee also produces General Comments to the Convention. These General Comments provide a backdrop to the Convention and outline how the Committee interprets a particular right in the Convention. In July 2009, the Committee recognised the essential role that child helplines have in realising the Right of Children to be Heard in General Comment no. 12. In paragraph 120, the Committee states: 'Much of the violence perpetrated against children goes unchallenged both because certain forms of abusive behaviour are understood by children as accepted practices and due to the lack of child-friendly reporting mechanisms. For example, they have no one to whom they can report in confidence and safety about experienced maltreatment, such as corporal punishment, genital mutilation or early marriage, and no channel to communicate their general observations to those accountable for implementation of their rights. Thus, effective inclusion of children in protective measures requires that children be informed about their right to be heard and to grow up free from all forms of physical and psychological violence. States parties should oblige all children’s institutions to establish easy access to individuals or organizations to which they can report in confidence and safety, including through telephone helplines, and to provide places where children can contribute their experience and views on combating violence against children.' For more information, please visit the dedicated page of the Committee. The twentieth anniversary of the Convention In 2009 the Convention is celebrating its twentieth anniversary. Events will be held all around the world to mark this occasion. CHI will also participate in the celebrations. Child helplines around the world will use the anniversary to call attention to the rights of children and the violations that are occuring in their country. On 9 December the CHI Secretariat will host an open house at its offices in Amsterdam from 16.00hrs until 20.00hrs to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. If you would like to attend this open house please send us an email. For more information on the 20th anniversary, please visit the dedicated pages of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and Unicef. top
	home