Introduction to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an international agreement adopted in 1989 that outlines the fundamental rights of children. This convention shifted the perspective on children from simply receiving care and charity to recognising them as individuals with their own distinct rights. Governments around the world committed to upholding these rights, ensuring that adults and authorities work together to protect and promote children's well-being.

The UNCRC consists of 54 articles that address all aspects of a child's life. These articles guide how children should be treated and how adults and governments must work together to ensure all children can enjoy their rights.

Principal articles in the UNCRC

Among the 54 articles, four are considered principal because they are essential to children's rights.

The four principal articles

• Non-discrimination (Article 2)
• Best interest of the child (Article 3)
• Right to life, survival, and development (Article 6)
• Right to be heard (Article 12) - Children who can form their own views have the right to express them freely on matters that affect them. Their opinions must be given appropriate weight based on their age and maturity. This article marks a historical shift, as children's participation was not always prioritised in guidelines or research.

Article 9: Separation from parents

This article states that children should not be separated from their parents unless it is necessary for their best interests. If parents separate, children have the right to maintain contact with both, provided it does not cause harm.

This connects to concepts in child psychology, particularly deprivation, which can occur through long-term events like death or divorce.

Article 19: Protection from harm

Governments must take all possible measures to protect children from violence, abuse, neglect, or mistreatment by parents or caregivers. This article emphasises safeguarding children's physical and emotional safety.

Article 21: Adoption rights

When a child is adopted, the primary focus must be on what is best for the child. Adopted children must be protected and kept safe, whether the adoption occurs in their birth country or abroad.

This article links to key debates in child psychology, such as attachment and the nature-nurture debate, in terms of behaviour shown and whether it is from the biological or adoptive parents.

Balancing participation and protection in research with children

Ethical research with children requires carefully balancing their right to participate with the need to protect them. The UNCRC highlights that involving children in decisions, including research, is essential, but it must not compromise their safety.

Key ethical considerations

• Promoting participation - Involving children in research is important as it helps them understand child protection.
• Ensuring protection - Full protection must be enabled in research with children.
• Achieving equilibrium - Full participation is ideally required, and children's decision to participate or not can form equilibrium with their right to be protected.