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UNCROC - United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Did you know that if you’re under 18, your human rights are listed in an international treaty called the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC for short)?

What is UNCROC?
UNCROC is short for United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It’s an international agreement between countries to protect and promote the interests of young people under 18 year-olds. UNCROC contains 54 separate commitments to young people. Four of these commitments or ‘articles’ are general principles:

•    the right to protection from all kinds of discrimination
•    the best interests of children are the most important consideration
•    all children have a right to life, survival and development
•    children have a right to an opinion and for that opinion to be heard in all contexts.

Why should I be interested in UNCROC?
UNCROC is a powerful thing - and it's all about your rights if you’re under 18 years of age. UNCROC covers everything from your health, work and life at home. UNCROC is sometimes used in court cases when the case needs legal guidance.

Lots of organisations, like Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa , the Office of the Children’s Commissioner and Youthlaw,  work hard to make sure that your rights are being protected and upheld under UNCROC. Our government is committed to a five-year UNCROC work programme to make things better for young people in New Zealand.  

Every five years, New Zealand reports back to the United Nations and they check that we’re doing OK.  The next reporting time is 2008.

New Zealand has a United Nations youth network called  UNYANZ - United Nations Youth Association of New Zealand (you say it "onions" like the vegetable). If you want more information about the United Nations, then check out this group. It is run by young people to educate other young people on the role of the United Nations.

How many countries have signed up to UNCROC?
UNCROC was established in 1989, and since then 192 countries have signed up to it, including New Zealand. UNCROC is the most subscribed to human rights treaty in history – only two countries yet to adopt it: the United States and Somalia.

When countries sign up to UNCROC, they are generally allowed to enter what is known as a ‘reservation’ if they feel they cannot meet the requirements of certain articles. New Zealand has three reservations, which relate to children in detention (article 37(c), child labour (article 32) and services for children in New Zealand unlawfully.

Why is UNCROC important?
When a country signs up to UNCROC, it is agreeing to make sure that the rights set out in the Convention become a reality. As part of this commitment, countries are required to report every five years to an independent committee of experts, which meets in Switzerland four times per year.

After considering a country report, the Committee responds with a detailed set of recommendations about how children’s rights in that country can be improved.

These recommendations are designed to encourage governments to do more to support and invest in children and young people. They are also a tool for non-government organisations (and young people) to hold governments to account for the decisions they make that affect young people.

What is New Zealand’s approach to UNCROC?
The UN Committee issued its most recent recommendations to New Zealand in 2003, outlining a range of areas in which improvements to children’s rights could be made.

In response, Government developed a five-year work programme 2004-2008. The work programme also includes work being done to remove New Zealand’s three reservations to UNCROC.

Does UNCROC apply to me?
UNCROC applies to all under 18 year-olds. Unlike some international human rights conventions, UNCROC does not have a complaints mechanism, and there is no international court that considers breaches of the Convention.

However, non-government organisations have the opportunity to report to the UN Committee every five years, and these reports can identify problems relating to young people’s rights under UNCROC.

In addition, New Zealand passed legislation in 2002 strengthening the powers of the Children’s Commissioner, who is now responsible for reporting on governments’ compliance with UNCROC.

What is happening with UNCROC over the year ahead?
New Zealand’s next report to the UN Committee is due by November 2008. We want youth voices to be part of this report, and we are currently looking at ways to make this happen. These include the possibility of a film project focusing on life for young people in 21st century New Zealand. Watch this space for further details!



There is a publication available about the five-year work programme:

• UNCROC Five year work programme - an A4 sized booklet

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