About your rights

Everyone in the world has human rights, including you. And everyone under 18 has a human rights law that’s just for them. It’s called the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, or UNCRC.

The UNCRC is divided into a lot of parts called articles. Each of these articles says something different about your human rights.

Some of the rights these articles talk about are:

your human right to have opinions adults take seriously,
your human right for adults to think about what’s best for you, and
your human right to play, rest and relax.

No one can take your rights away. They don’t depend on responsibilities.

Your rights explained in pictures and simple words.

More information

You can find out more about the first 42 articles of the UNCRC by clicking through the box below.

UNCRC Article 2

All children have these rights

All children have the rights set out in the UNCRC, and individual children and young people shouldn’t be discriminated against when these rights are realised.

Adults must do what’s best for me

Article 3 says that the best interests of children and young people should be thought about at all levels of society.

The Government should make sure my rights are respected

Article 4 of the UNCRC says that the Scottish Government and UK Government should both work to make sure the Convention is known about and upheld.

The Government should respect the right of my family to help me know about my rights

Article 5 of the UNCRC is about recognising that most young people will find that their parents, guardians or family are the people who are most qualified to give them good advice.

I should be supported to live and grow

Article 6 of the UNCRC recognises that all children and young people have the right to survive and the right to develop.

I have a right to an identity

Article 8 is about your name, nationality and family relationships. It says the government shouldn’t interfere with the right to any of these.

I have a right to a name and to belong to a country

Article 7 of the UNCRC says that all children and young people have the right to a name and nationality, which they should be granted at birth.

I have a right to live with a family who cares for me

Article 9 of the UNCRC says that a child or young person shouldn’t be separated from their parents in most cases.

I have the right to see my family if they live in another country

Article 10 of the UNCRC says children and young people should be able to stay in contact with and visit their parents, even if they live in different countries.

I have the right not to be taken out of the country illegally

Article 11 of the UNCRC says children and young people shouldn’t be taken from their home country against their will.

I have the right to be listened to and taken seriously

Article 12 says children and young people have the human right to have opinions and for these opinions to be heard and taken seriously.

I have the right to find out and share information

Article 13 is about the right to freedom of expression, which children and young people have like everyone else.

I have the right to have my own thoughts and beliefs and to choose my religion with my parents’ guidance

Article 14 is about freedom of thought, freedom of conscience and a child’s rights around religion.

I have the right to meet with friends and to join groups

Article 15 of the UNCRC makes it clear that – like all people in the world – children and young people have the human right to freedom of association.

I have the right to keep some things private

Article 16 of the UNCRC makes it clear that children and young people have the right to privacy, just like adults do.

I have the right to get information in lots of ways, so long as it’s safe

Article 17 of the UNCRC says children and young people should be able to access information, particularly from the media. They should be able to get information from many places— from their country and beyond.

I have the right to be brought up by both parents if possible

Article 18 of the UNCRC says that a child or young person’s parents will normally have the main responsibility for bringing them up.

I have the right to be protected from being hurt or badly treated

Article 19 of the UNCRC makes it clear that children and young people have the right to be protected from violence, just like everybody else.

I have the right to special protection and help if I can’t live with my own family

Article 20 of the UNCRC says that children and young people have the right to special protection and help if they can’t live with their family.

I have the right to have the best care if I am adopted

Article 21 of the UNCRC says that when a child or young person is adopted or living in foster care, their best interests should come first.

If I am a refugee, I have the same rights as children born in that country

Children and young people who are refugees have the right to special protection and help.

If I have a disability, I have the right to special care and education

All children and young people have the right to be safe and happy. When a child or young person has a disability, people should make sure it does not get in the way of this.

I have the right to good quality health care, to clean water and good food

Article 24 of the UNCRC says that children and young people’s health should be as good as possible.

If I am not living with my family, people should keep checking I am safe and happy

If children or young people aren’t living with their families, people should keep checking if they are safe and happy.

My family should get the money they need to help bring me up

Article 26 of the UNCRC says that children and young people should get financial support when their parents or guardians can’t give them enough.

I have the right to have a proper house, food and clothing

Article 27 of the UNCRC says children and young people should be able to have the food and housing they need to reach their full potential.

I have the right to an education

Article 28 of the UNCRC says that all children and young people have the right to education no matter who they are.

I have the right to an education which develops my personality, respect for others’ rights and the environment

Article 29 of the UNCRC says that a child or young person’s education should help their mind, body and talents be the best they can.

I have a right to speak my own language and to follow my family’s way of life

Children and young people who belong to a minority group have the right to share their culture, language and religion with other people in that group.

I have a right to relax and play

Article 31 of the UNCRC says that children and young people have the right to have fun in the way they want to.

I should not be made to do dangerous work

Article 32 of the UNCRC says that children and young people shouldn’t be able to work until they reach a certain age.

I should be protected from dangerous drugs

Article 33 of the UNCRC says that children and young people have a right to be protected from harmful drugs.

Nobody should touch me in ways that make me feel uncomfortable, unsafe or sad

Article 34 of the UNCRC says that children and young people have the right to be protected from sexual abuse.

I should not be abducted, sold or trafficked

Article 35 of the UNCRC makes it clear that abducting, selling or trafficking children or young people is always wrong.

I have the right to be kept safe from things that could harm my development

Article 36 makes it clear that children and young people should not be exploited for any reason.

I have the right not to be punished in a cruel or hurtful way

Article 37 covers protection from cruelty and torture.

I am not allowed to join the army until I am 15

Article 38 of the UNCRC covers how the rights of children relate to the armed forces.

I have the right to get help if I have been hurt, neglected or badly treated

Article 39 of the UNCRC says children and young people have the right to recover from difficult things that happen to them.

I have the right to get legal help and to be treated fairly if I have been accused of breaking the law

Children and young people have the right to get legal help and to be treated fairly if I have been accused of breaking the law.