Press Release: EU marks 20 years of Child Rights Protection and Looks Ahead

On 20 November 2009 the world celebrated the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – the most universally ratified human rights treaty. The Convention is the first international legally binding instrument establishing minimum standards for the protection and safeguarding of a full range of civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of all children around the world. The internal policies of the EU and its external relations are based on the full respect and promotion of the Convention's principles. This anniversary is an opportunity to recognise the progress achieved in the promotion and protection of children’s rights, but also to reflect on remaining challenges to enable children all over the world to fully enjoy their rights. To highlight the joint commitment to the principles of the UNCRC, the European Commission, UNICEF and UNRIC will jointly mark the 20 anniversary of the adoption of the Convention.

European Commission: SPEECH/09/550: Giving children a voice http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/09/550&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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