Resources on the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Resources and research about the Convention and child rights.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. Discover the key Convention documents and related publications and resources.
New: General comment No. 26 (2023) on children’s rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change
Convention documents
The Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols text
The Convention on the Rights of the Child full text
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure
Status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols
Status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Monitoring the Convention and States Parties reports
The Committee on the Rights of the Child
States parties reports to the Committee on the Rights of the Child
For students and teachers
World's Largest Lesson
Envisage a future world where all child rights are realized and a sustainable future is secured. Through a set of lessons and activities, students will learn about the relationship between the Sustainable Development Goals and children’s rights, and identify actions they can take to make both of these a reality in their own lives and communities. Resources include a teachers’ guide and activities that can be implemented at school-level to celebrate World Children’s Day and the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Child rights and why they matter
Interested in learning more about child rights? Take this short course to transform and/or refresh your understanding of child rights and a child rights approach, introduce you to UNICEF’s mandate as it relates to child rights, and inspire you to apply a child rights lens to our everyday work and life.
Committee on the Rights of the Child: Information for children
Learn more about the Committee and its work to protect child rights.
Quiz
Why do children have their own rights? Find out how much you know about child rights!
Child rights education with children aged 0-6 years
A discussion paper presents the findings of a literature review in relation to child rights education with very young children, and the outcomes of some informal research undertaken with practitioners working on this topic in seven countries.
For business
Children’s Rights and Business Principles
Developed by UNICEF, the UN Global Compact and Save the Children – the Children’s Rights and Business Principles are the first comprehensive set of principles to guide companies on the full range of actions they can take in the workplace, marketplace and community to respect and support children’s rights.
For governments, NGOs and human rights practitioners
For every child, every right: The Convention on the Rights of the Child at a crossroads
Published in connection with the 30th anniversary of the Convention, this report is intended as an advocacy tool to both celebrate the achievements of the past three decades and generate dialogue on the critical work that remains – especially for children who have been left behind.
Mapping the Global Goals for Sustainable Development and the Convention on the Rights of the Child
An interactive document that aims to encourage an in-depth and broad-based exploration of the links and synergies between the Global Goals for Sustainable Development and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Child rights education toolkit: Rooting child rights in early childhood education, Primary and Secondary Schools
The toolkit defines what is meant by child rights education and the child rights approach. The toolkit explains the relevance of child rights education to UNICEF’s mission and the ways in which education can take place in a range of contexts – including with professionals, caregivers, the corporate sector, the media, and children’s groups.
Teaching and learning about child rights: A study of implementation in 26 countries
This study explores child rights education in early childhood education, primary and secondary schools in 26 countries. It includes a literature review, results from an online survey completed by national experts, seven country case studies and a series of benchmarking statements to guide implementation of child rights education.
Child rights education with children aged 0-6 years
A discussion paper presents the findings of a literature review in relation to child rights education with very young children, and the outcomes of some informal research undertaken with practitioners working on this topic in seven countries.
Hate speech and children's rights podcast
UNICEF’s podcast series on hate speech and its impact on child rights aims to raise awareness on the impact of hate speech on the full spectrum of children's rights. Speakers from across the United Nations, academia and civil society tackle this critical child rights issue.
