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The Convention on the Rights of the Child  (CRC) has fundamentally changed the way societies view children. They are no longer seen as the property of any one, not even of their parents'. They enjoy the same basic rights as every human being, of any age.

Since it was conceived 20 November 1989, the Convention has become the most widely adopted human rights treaty in history, currently ratified by 193 State Parties.

The rights articulated in the Convention are based on four core principles:

• non-discrimination;
• the best interest of the child as primary consideration in matters that affect them;
• rights to life, survival and development, and
• respect for the views of children.
   

©UNICEF/China/2011/Zhao Jia A girl plays with her peers in a UNICEF-supported Child Friendly Space, Yushu County, Qinghai Province.

The Convention also identifies the obligation of States to do all they can to deliver these rights, and acknowledges the special role of parents in their children's upbringing.

More than seventy countries have incorporated children's codes into national legislation based on the Convention's provisions, and awareness and advocacy on child protection issues have increased markedly.

However the rights of millions of children are not yet respected or protected. Hunger, ill-health, violence, abuse, exploitation, discrimination and neglect are still the daily reality for far too many.

Delivering on the commitment to children that the Convention represents is a collective responsibility, shared by every person, community, company, institution and government in the world.

UNICEF is working in more than 190 counties to reach those children who are still being denied their rights, due to poverty, armed conflict, disease, disasters, discrimination, and development disparities.

©UNICEF/China/2010/Xu Xin Child campers from UNICEF-supported Summer Camp in Hainan Province jump up for a group photo. They all have experienced special difficulties in their lives, such as poverty, disabilities and HIV/AIDS.

With a population of more than 300 million children, and as one of the largest developing countries, China has an unprecedented opportunity to support and promote the rights of its own children as well as those beyond its borders.

China ratified the Convention in 1992. It ratified the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography in 2002, and the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict in December 2007. Today China has established a strong body of domestic legislation designed to give effect to CRC.

Since the early 1990s, China has promulgated the National Programme of Action for Child Development and set up concrete targets to push forward every aspect of CRC. Since then, China has made great progress in providing children with health care, education, protection and other social services.

While great achievements have been made in China's effort to protect children's rights, many difficult challenges remain. Children affected by disability and HIV and AIDS, for instance, often face discrimination and exclusion. Children affected by migration also face significant obstacles in accessing basic services such as education and health care.

©UNICEF/China/2010/Frankie Chen Children present their opinions after a group discussion. UNICEF often listens to the voices of children on issues concerning them when implementing aid programmes in China.

The year 2012 marks the 20^th anniversary of China's ratification of the Convention. While celebrating the remarkable achievements, the challenge for China in the next 20 years is to bridge the social disparities among the rural and urban, and diverse income groups.  

Since 1979, we have been working with the Government of China to reach the most deprived children by piloting projects in the poor, remote, rural and ethnic-populated areas. We are also documenting the best practices and lessons learnt from helping China to deal with new social problems such as the impact of rural-to-urban migration on children.

Investing in child rights is among the surest ways to ensure the sustainability of China's economic and social progress. Join us today to know what we do in China, share with your friends and be an advocate for child rights!