What rights do children have?

Children's rights apply to all children in the world. They should ensure that you are well. They were laid down in 1989 in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is a treaty that almost all countries in the world have signed. Switzerland ratified the convention in 1997, i.e. pledged to comply with the rules.

What children's rights are there?

The more than 40 children's rights can be divided into three groups:

1. participation

You have the right to express your opinion openly. If something directly affects you, you should be allowed to have a say, for example, in what a new playground should look like. There should also be magazines, websites and programmes especially for children. This way, you can inform yourself and form your own opinion.

2. promotion and development

So that you can grow up well, you have the right to sufficient food, medical care and good health. You should go to school, have friends and have enough time to play and relax. This also includes films, books and plays for children.

3. protection

Children are often unable to defend themselves when they are wronged. That's why they need special protection. For example, they should not have to work hard. Nobody is allowed to hit you or do anything to your body that you don't want. Protecting your private life is also important, for example, no one should be allowed to read your diary or your mobile phone chats just like that.

Compliance with rights

Children's rights must not only be written on paper, they must also be respected. Unfortunately, this is often not the case: many children around the world go hungry or have to work. Not all children's rights are respected in Switzerland either. For example, there are still adults who beat children. In order for all this to change at some point, it is important that as many people as possible - including you! - know about children's rights and campaign for them to be respected.