As defined in various international legal instruments, children have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, physically or mentally. International law directs States to ensure that children are properly cared for and to protect them from violence, abuse and neglect. Should they be victims of violence, States shall take all appropriate measures to promote physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration.
The UNODC Ending Violence Against Children Team promotes, promulgates and protects a human rights and child rights-based approach to the phenomenon of violence against children.
The international legal framework on child rights serves as a benchmark for action to ensure the continued determination of the international community to protect and uphold the fundamental child rights which are enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other key international standards and norms pertaining to the rights of the child.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure
General comment No. 13 (2011) the right of the child to freedom from all forms of violence
General comment No. 24 (2019) on children's rights in the child justice system
UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules)
UN Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (Riyadh Guidelines)
UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty (Havana Rules)
Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice System (Vienna Guidelines)
Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime
UN Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence Against Children
The Beijing Rules, Riyadh Guidelines, Havana Rules, Vienna Guidelines, Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime and UN Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence Against Children are available in Part Two of the Compendium of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice which is available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
UN Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (Tokyo Rules)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
International Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949
Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (ILO Convention N°182)
Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons
Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness
UN Global Counter-terrorism Strategy Review (General Assembly Resolution 70/291)
