Every child - no matter where they were born, what they look like, or what family they come from - has rights. Not privileges. Not things that can be taken away if circumstances change. Fundamental human rights that belong to them simply because they are children.
Those rights are set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) - the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. 196 countries have signed it. Every single one has made a legal commitment to uphold it.
At Save the Children, children's rights are not just words on paper. They are the foundation of everything we do - in the UK and in every country where we work. As a children’s rights charity, we've stood up for children for a century and ensured their voices are heard. We wrote the treaty that sets out their rights, and we've upheld them every day since.
What are children's rights?
Children's rights are the specific entitlements that every child has, regardless of their background or circumstances. They cover every aspect of a child's life - from survival and safety to education, identity, and having a say in decisions that affect them.
Here is what every child has the right to:
The right to life, survival and development. Every child has the right to live and to grow up healthy and safe, with access to the things they need to thrive.
The right to education. Every child has the right to learn, whatever their background. Education is not a gift - it is a right.
The right to be protected from violence, abuse and exploitation. No child should experience harm, neglect, or be used for someone else's benefit.
The right to healthcare. Every child has the right to the best possible health and access to medical services.
The right to a family life. Children have the right to know and be cared for by their parents where possible - or to receive good alternative care if they cannot be.
The right to be heard. Children have the right to express their views on matters affecting them, and to have those views taken seriously by adults and decision-makers.
The right to an identity. Every child has the right to a name, a nationality, and a family identity.
The right to play and leisure. Children have the right to rest, play, and take part in cultural and creative activities.
The right to freedom from discrimination. These rights belong to every child equally - without exception.
These rights are indivisible. You cannot pick and choose which ones apply. For a complete guide to how these rights are defined and protected in international law, read our full guide to the UNCRC.
Why children's rights matter right now
Children's rights are not just an aspiration. They are being violated every day - and the scale is growing.
Globally:
More than one in six children globally - over 473 million - are living in areas directly affected by conflict. In the latest available data, from 2023, the United Nations verified a record 32,990 grave violations against 22,557 children - the highest number since Security Council-mandated monitoring began. These violations include killings, injuries, abductions and the recruitment of children into armed groups.
In the UK:
Children's rights are under pressure at home too. 4.5 million children - 31% of all children in the UK - are living in relative poverty after housing costs, an increase of 900,000 since 2010. Two million children (14%) are in deep material poverty, meaning their families cannot afford things like keeping their home adequately warm or fresh fruit and vegetables every day.
Children's mental health is a growing crisis. Around 1 in 5 children and young people in the UK had a probable mental health condition in 2023.
The UNCRC guarantees children the right to an adequate standard of living, to healthcare, and to be heard. In the UK, too many children are still waiting for those rights to be real in their everyday lives.
How Save the Children protects children's rights
We were founded on the belief that children have rights - long before that was universally accepted. Our founder Eglantyne Jebb drafted the first Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1923. That document became the foundation for the UNCRC 65 years later.
Almost every country in the world has signed up to the UNCRC - and real progress has been made in areas such as under‐5 child mortality, access to education and absolute poverty. But many countries still fail to prioritise and promote children’s rights.
Today, we protect children's rights in four ways.
We provide immediate help. When children's rights are being violated right now - by conflict, poverty, or disaster - we act. In 2024, our global movement directly supported 41.2 million children in 93 countries. In the UK, we supported over 375,000 children and families with practical help including grants, baby banks, and community programmes.
We hold governments accountable. We track how well countries are implementing the UNCRC, highlight gaps, and use evidence from our programmes to push for change. In the UK, we are a core participant in the COVID-19 Public Inquiry, and we continue to campaign for children's rights to be fully incorporated into UK law.
We amplify children's voices. Article 12 of the UNCRC says children have the right to be heard. We take that seriously. From our Youth Advisory Board to the Our Generation. Our Vote programme - which saw nearly 23,000 children cast votes in a children's election in 2024 - we create real spaces for children to influence the decisions that shape their lives.
We campaign for lasting change. Our campaigns are rooted in specific UNCRC articles. Our Child Lock campaign is grounded in Article 27 - every child's right to an adequate standard of living. After years of campaigning alongside families, the two-child limit on benefits was scrapped in November 2025 - a direct win for children's rights in the UK.
Protecting Adam's RIGHTS
Adam*, 14, dreams of becoming an astronaut. But life in a crowded Palestinian camp in Lebanon makes that dream feel far away.
When Adam was four, his father died in the war in Syria. His family fled to Lebanon, where they now live with seven others in his grandfather’s small home. The camp is overcrowded, the sewage system is broken, and electricity cuts are constant.
When COVID hit, Adam’s school moved online—but without power or internet, he couldn’t keep up.
Then Adam found the education centre in the camp, supported by Save the Children. There, he discovered his rights—and his voice. He now attends child rights classes and speaks up for children in his community.
Adam still dreams of space. But for now, he’s focused on school, helping his sister with her studies, and making his mum proud. “I want to be a role model for my mother,” he says. “Because I am her future.”
How are we helping?
We're calling on all governments to recommit to the UNCRC by focusing on three key areas:
- Ensuring all laws fully comply with the UNCRC.
- Increased government spending on children and ensuring that resources are being used effectively.
- Establishing an independent ombudsman for the protection and promotion of child rights in every country, and setting up an international complaints procedure for the UNCRC.
How serious is the problem?
- 1 in 3 under fives has not had their birth registered, meaning they don’t have an official name or nationality
- In half the countries where records exist, over 80% of children aged 2–14 have experienced violent discipline
- Child labour affects 150M
Frequently asked questions
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What are the most important children's rights?
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All children's rights are equally important and indivisible - you cannot prioritise one at the expense of another. However, the UNCRC identifies four guiding principles that underpin everything else: the right to life and development; the best interests of the child in all decisions; non-discrimination; and the right to be heard. Without these four principles in place, other rights are harder to realise.
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Are children's rights the same as human rights?
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Yes - children's rights are human rights. But the UNCRC recognises that children have specific needs and vulnerabilities that require dedicated protections beyond general human rights frameworks. Children cannot always advocate for themselves, are dependent on adults, and are still developing physically and emotionally. The UNCRC exists to reflect that.
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Do children have rights in the UK?
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Yes. The UK ratified the UNCRC in 1991 and is legally bound by it under international law. Children in the UK also have rights protected through domestic legislation including the Children Act 1989, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Equality Act 2010. However, the UNCRC has not been fully incorporated into domestic law in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, which limits how directly children can enforce it through UK courts. Scotland is the exception - its UNCRC Incorporation Act came into force in January 2024.
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What rights do children have at school?
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Under the UNCRC, every child has the right to education (Article 28), to have their best interests prioritised (Article 3), to be protected from violence including bullying (Article 19), and to express their views on matters affecting them including school rules and curriculum (Article 12). In the UK, children also have rights under the Equality Act 2010 protecting them from discrimination.
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What are children's rights in relation to parents?
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Children's rights are not the same as parental rights, and they do not conflict. The UNCRC recognises parents as having primary responsibility for their children and requires governments to support parents in meeting that responsibility (Article 18). However, where parents are unable to protect a child's rights - or are actively violating them - the state has a duty to intervene in the child's best interests.
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How can I help protect children's rights?
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You can donate to Save the Children to support our rights-based work in the UK and around the world. You can campaign with us to hold the UK government to account on children's rights commitments. You can contact your MP about issues affecting children in your community. And you can talk to children in your life about their rights - Article 42 of the UNCRC actually requires governments to make sure children know what they are entitled to.
