9.60.10 Children's rights

I honour UNICEF (The United Nations Children's Fund) for their global efforts in protecting children. I direct the enclosed summary of "The Convention on the Rights of Children" be followed by every tribe (including the Sovereign tribes of the USA and Somalia who have as yet refused to ratify it):

Children's Rights to Basic Health and Welfare

Every child has the right to:

• Survival and development;
• An adequate standard of living;
• The highest attainable standard of health and effective health services;
• Special care, if he or she is disabled, that ensures dignity, promotes self-reliance and facilitates active participation in the community; and
• Social security and child care services and facilities.

The Rights of Children and their Families

Every child has the right to:

• Live with his or her parents or to maintain contact if separated from either one;
• Cross national borders to be reunified with his or her parents;
• Receive alternative care when a family environment cannot be maintained;
• A safe adoption system;
• Protection from kidnapping;
• Protection from abuse and neglect by parents or care givers; and
• Regular review of any placements that might be necessary for care, protection or treatment.

The Convention requires that governments will ensure the rights of parents and families to:

• Provide guidance to their child;
• Receive assistance in child-raising;
• Have responsibilities shared equally by both parents;
• Receive material assistance and support programmes especially with regard to nutrition, clothing and housing; and
• Cross national borders to be reunified with their children.

Children's Rights to Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

Every child has the right to:

• Free primary education;
• Access to secondary education and vocational training;
• An education that develops his or her personality, talents, and mental and physical abilities to their fullest;
• An education that prepares him or her for an active adult life in a free society;
• An education that fosters respect for his or her own family, cultural identity, and language; for his or her country; and for the natural environment;
• An education in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance and equality;
• Leisure, play and the opportunity to participate in cultural and artistic activities; and
• The opportunity to enjoy his or her culture, profess and practise his or her religion, use his or her language.

Children's Rights to Special Protection

Every child has the right to special protection:

• In emergency situations such as armed conflict, or when children are separated from family or home;
• When he or she is in conflict with the law;
• In situations of exploitation such as child labour, drug abuse, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, sale, trafficking and abduction; and
• From discrimination of any kind.

The Civil Rights of Freedoms of Children

Every child has the right to:

• A name and nationality;
• Protection from being deprived of his or her identity.
• Freedom of expression;
• Freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
• Freedom of association and peaceful assembly;
• Information from a diversity of sources;
• Privacy;
• Protection from torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and
• Protection against unlawful arrest and unjustified deprivation of liberty.

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