On 20 November 1989, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, by resolution 44/25, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, opened the same day for signature, ratification and accession. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish, equally authentic. Depositary: the Secretary-General. It is not the Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1959 and not the Optional Protocols of 2000.

The preamble: inherent dignity and inalienable rights; childhood is entitled to special care; the family as the fundamental group of society; the Geneva Declaration of 1924 and the 1959 Declaration; the child, by reason of physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth. Article 1: a child means every human being below the age of eighteen years unless, under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier. Article 2: the rights in the Convention, without discrimination, for each child within the jurisdiction. Article 3: in all actions concerning children, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration. Article 6: the inherent right to life; survival and development to the maximum extent possible. Article 7: registration immediately after birth, a name, a nationality, and as far as possible the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents.

Article 12: the child who is capable of forming his or her own views has the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, due weight being given in accordance with age and maturity; the child shall be heard in judicial and administrative proceedings. Article 19: protection from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parents, legal guardians or any other person. Article 32: protection from economic exploitation and from work that is hazardous or interferes with education or is harmful to health; minimum ages for admission to employment. Article 34: protection from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse; measures to prevent the inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity, exploitative use in prostitution, and exploitative use of children in pornographic performances and materials. Article 38: persons who have not attained the age of fifteen years shall not take a direct part in hostilities and shall not be recruited into the armed forces.

Article 43: a Committee on the Rights of the Child shall examine the progress made by States Parties. Article 44: reports within two years of entry into force for the State concerned, and thereafter every five years. Article 45: UNICEF and United Nations organs may be represented; the Committee may make suggestions and general recommendations. Article 46: open for signature by all States. Article 49: entry into force on the thirtieth day after the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession. The United Nations Treaty Series records 2 September 1990, No. 27531, volume 1577, p. 3. Article 51: a reservation incompatible with the object and purpose shall not be permitted. Article 52: denunciation, effective one year after receipt. Article 54: the original deposited with the Secretary-General.

The General Assembly Hall, New York. The place of adoption by resolution 44/25, not the confirmed hall of individual signatures. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

For context: Convention on the Rights of the Child. The text: UNTS vol. 1577, No. 27531.