All children must be protected by fundamental rights designed to ensure their protection and full development as individuals.
For this, the child must be considered as a priority and must have access to rights such as: health, food, education, dignity, safety, well-being and family and social life.
The principles underlying children's rights were defined in the Universal Declaration of Children's Rights, approved by the United Nations in the year 1959.
They reinforce the idea that protective measures must prioritize the interests and needs of children.. Learn a little more about each of them:
1. All children must have their rights guaranteed.
This first principle ensures that all children must receive assistance and the guarantee of rights determined by the United Nations, based on the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child.
Determines that this must happen regardless of any type of discrimination (such as color, gender, ethnicity, nationality, political opinion, financial condition or religion). That is, children must have their rights guaranteed, free from the consequences of any act of exclusion.
2. The child will be protected and will have the right to full development.
This principle mentions the child's right to special protection to ensure their "physical, mental, moral, spiritual and social development". She must be kept safe and have access to opportunities and services that can help her in her development as a human being.
In addition, the principle establishes that these services must be determined by law and provided under conditions that allow freedom and a dignified environment for children.
3. Children are entitled to name and nationality.
This principle guarantees that all children, from the moment of their birth, are entitled to receive a name and the attribution of a nationality.
Both the registration of the name and the claim of nationality are the responsibility of the parents or legal guardians of the child.
4. Every child has the right to food, leisure and medical assistance.
This principle ensures that every child has the right to Social Security assistance, in addition to good adequate food, housing, leisure and medical care, as they are essential for healthy and worthy.
These care rights apply to both the child and the mother, including during and after the pregnancy, as in cases of prenatal exams and follow-up after the childbirth.
Learn more about social Security.
5. Every child with special needs will be entitled to adequate care.
This principle is aimed at meeting the needs of children who have a special need or difficulty. They are entitled to care and access to adequate treatment, as well as the right to education.
Children who suffer some kind of social difficulty due to their special needs must have access to opportunities for them to be included in society, taking into account the particularities of the situation of each one.
Also read about the social inclusion.
6. Every child needs love and understanding.
The principle mentions that every child needs and should receive love and understanding from both parents, caregivers and society.
Because they are in the development stage, the child needs this special attention so that they grow fully and harmoniously, feeling safe and with the necessary support from parents and responsible.
This principle also determines that, as a rule, children should not be separated from their mothers, which should only happen in exceptional situations.
7. Every child has the right to receive an education.
This principle addresses the guarantee of children's right to education and leisure. Determines that the education offered must be free, at least in the initial grades. The main objective is to guarantee equal access and educational opportunities for all children.
The education offered must meet requirements that allow the development of their skills and culture, in addition to encouraging critical thinking and responsibilities.
The child must be exposed to teachings and learning through playful dynamics, geared to their age and level of learning.
8. The child must be the first to receive protection.
This principle establishes the child's right to receive protection and help in the first place (in accidents, disasters or calamities, for example).
This means that, in any situations that pose a risk, children must be the first people protected.
9. Children must be protected from cruelty and exploitation.
In this principle, there is a guarantee that children must be protected against any type of abandonment or exploitation, as in cases of exploitation of child labor.
Children may not be forced to do any work or activity that harms their health or hinders their education.
Likewise, they cannot be involved in activities that put them at risk and cause damage to their physical, mental or moral development.
10. Every child is entitled to protection from acts of discrimination.
The last principle determines that children must be protected from exposure to any type of discrimination or exclusion, as they have the right to live in a society based on values of solidarity, peace, understanding and tolerance.
It must be protected from all acts that encourage prejudice and discrimination, whether racial, religious or of any other kind.
To learn more about rights, see also the meaning of human rights and meet the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Children's rights in Brazil
In Brazil, the rights of children are supported by law No. 8.069/1990, the Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA). The law provides for measures to ensure healthy and dignified living conditions for children (up to 12 years old) and teenagers (up to 18 years old).
It also contains determinations regarding offenses committed by children and adolescents, in addition to protective and socio-educational measures that can be applied in these situations.
Read more about the Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA).