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RCGP Safeguarding toolkit

Part 2A: Identification of abuse and neglect

The rights of children

The rights of children are enshrined in UK law. The UK ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1992. The Convention has 54 articles that cover all aspects of a child’s life and set out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all children everywhere are entitled to. It also explains how adults and governments must work together to make sure all children can enjoy all their rights.

Every child has rights “without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.”

—Article 2, UNCRC

There are four articles in the Convention that are seen as special. These are known as the ‘General Principles’. They are:

NON-DISCRIMINATION: ARTICLE 2
The Convention applies to every child without discrimination, whatever their ethnicity, sex, religion, language, abilities or any other status, whatever they think or say, whatever their family background.
RIGHT TO SURVIVAL AND DEVELOPMENT: ARTICLE 6
Every child has the right to life. Governments must do all they can to ensure that children survive and develop to their full potential.
BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD: ARTICLE 3
The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all decisions and actions that affect children.
RIGHT TO BE HEARD: ARTICLE 12
Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. This right applies at all times, for example during immigration proceedings, housing decisions or the child’s day-to-day home life.

There are also articles within the Convention’s 54 articles which are particularly relevant to safeguarding and child protection. For example:

  • Article 19 (protection from violence, abuse and neglect). Governments must do all they can to ensure that children are protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and bad treatment by their parents or anyone else who looks after them.
  • Article 39 (recovery from trauma and reintegration). Children who have experienced neglect, abuse, exploitation, torture or who are victims of war must receive special support to help them recover their health, dignity, self-respect and social life.

A summary by UNICEF of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child can be found here: UNCRC_summary-1_1.pdf.

This summary provides a powerful reminder of the rights of children which should be embedded into all that we do to protect children from abuse and neglect as well as supporting those who are victims and survivors.

References