UNCRC

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Children's Rights Official Text

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child protects all children under 18, guaranteeing them rights to safety, education, healthcare, and having their best interests considered in decisions affecting them. For asylum-seeking and refugee children, it means they must receive the same protections as local children, cannot be detained inappropriately, and should only be separated from parents as a last resort. The UK ratified this treaty in 1991 and is legally bound by it, though enforcement relies mainly on UN monitoring and public pressure rather than courts forcing compliance. While the treaty has improved children's rights globally, implementation varies significantly, and asylum-seeking children in the UK still face challenges like long waits for decisions and inadequate support services.