Chapter 4, Part 3 · Art. 53

Children

2010-as-amended · effective 2010-08-27

Official text

(1) Every child has the right—
  (a) to a name and nationality from birth;
  (b) to free and compulsory basic education;
  (c) to basic nutrition, shelter and health care;
  (d) to be protected from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practices, all forms of violence, inhuman treatment and punishment, and hazardous or exploitative labour;
  (e) to parental care and protection, which includes equal responsibility of the mother and father to provide for the child, whether they are married to each other or not; and
  (f) not to be detained, except as a measure of last resort, and when detained, to be held—
    (i) for the shortest appropriate period of time; and
    (ii) separate from adults and in conditions that take account of the child’s sex and age.
(2) A child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.

In simple words

Every child has the right to a name and a nationality from birth.
Art. 53(1)(a)
(a) to a name and nationality from birth;
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Every child has the right to free and compulsory basic education.
Art. 53(1)(b)
(b) to free and compulsory basic education;
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Every child has the right to food, shelter and health care.
Art. 53(1)(c)
(c) to basic nutrition, shelter and health care;
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Every child must be protected from abuse, neglect, violence and harmful practices.
Art. 53(1)(d)
(d) to be protected from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practices, all forms of violence, inhuman treatment and punishment, and hazardous or exploitative labour;
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Both parents have equal responsibility to provide for the child, whether they are married or not.
Art. 53(1)(e)
(e) to parental care and protection, which includes equal responsibility of the mother and father to provide for the child, whether they are married to each other or not; and
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A child should only be detained as a last resort, for the shortest possible time, and kept separate from adults.
Art. 53(1)(f)
(f) not to be detained, except as a measure of last resort, and when detained, to be held—
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In every matter concerning a child, what is best for the child comes first.
Art. 53(2)
(2) A child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.
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Kids explanation

Every child should have a name, go to school, and have food, a home and a doctor.
Art. 53(1)
(1) Every child has the right— (a) to a name and nationality from birth; (b) to free and compulsory basic education; (c) to basic nutrition, shelter and health care; (d) to be protected from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practices, all forms of violence, inhuman treatment and punishment, and hazardous or exploitative labour; (e) to parental care and protection, which includes equal responsibility of the mother and father to provide for the child, whether they are married to each other or not; and (f) not to be detained, except as a measure of last resort, and when detained, to be held— (i) for the shortest appropriate period of time; and (ii) separate from adults and in conditions that take account of the child’s sex and age.
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The most important thing is what is best for the child.
Art. 53(2)
(2) A child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.
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