Children's Rights

1Byiringiro's birth certificate

Byiringiro's mother takes a paper out of a safe box. "This is your birth certificate," she says. "When you were born, we registered your name. It shows that you are a Rwandan." Byiringiro reads his name on it and smiles. "So even my name is one of my rights?" "Yes," says his mother. "Every child has the right to a name and a nationality."

2Who is a child?

A child is any person under 18 years old. Children have all the human rights that adults have. Because children are still growing and need extra care, they also have special rights of their own.

3The Convention on the Rights of the Child

On 20 November 1989, the United Nations agreed on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a list of the rights of every child in the world. Rwanda signed it in 1990 and promised to follow it in 1991. We celebrate World Children's Day on 20 November. In Africa, we also celebrate the Day of the African Child on 16 June.

4Four groups of children's rights

5Children have responsibilities too

• Respect your parents, teachers and elders.
• Go to school and do your best.
• Help with light work at home, such as fetching water or sweeping.
• Respect other children's rights: share, play fairly and never bully.
• Keep yourself clean and look after your things.

6Who protects children's rights?

Parents and guardians care for children every day. Teachers keep children safe at school. Local leaders, the police and the government make and enforce laws that protect children. Anyone can call 116, the free child help line, if a child is being hurt.

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