Commissioner: Celebrate Children's Rights

Media Release
20 November 2009

Children’s rights and opinions are to be celebrated for enriching New Zealand society, Children’s Commissioner Dr John Angus said today.

Today, the 20th birthday of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC) will be celebrated at an afternoon tea event hosted by Her Excellency Lady Satyanand at Government House in Auckland.

“UNCROC is the first international human rights treaty setting out universal standards for children and young people,” Dr Angus said. “It protects children and young people and makes sure their voices are heard.

“While children and young people have the same fundamental human rights as adults, UNCROC takes into account their vulnerability as a population group. It is important in ensuring children and young people’s best interests are not overlooked and are in fact, paramount when decisions are made that affect their health and wellbeing.

“Children’s rights are not in conflict with the rights of adults in their lives. In fact, their rights to be listened to and taken seriously and to participate in the decision making process should be seen as important and enriching New Zealand society. It is ultimately their future that is most often affected by such decisions.

“This 20th birthday is an opportunity to recognise the work of early children’s rights pioneers and visionaries and to recommit to making children’s rights and wellbeing a reality for all children and young people in New Zealand.”

UNCROC is the most widely endorsed human rights treaty in history and has been ratified by 193 states to date. It applies to children and young people aged 17 years and below. On ratifying the convention, a government is required to turn its attention to the practical implications of helping children and young people achieve and enjoy these rights in a meaningful way. New Zealand, along with other member states of the United Nations, adopted UNCROC in principle in November 1989 and formally ratified it in March 1993.

ENDS