Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

Categories of Children’s Rights

Handout 2 - Module 1 Topic 4

There are four categories of children’s rights:

 Survival Rights:

• The right to a name and a nationality


• The right to grow peacefully in a caring and secure environment


• The right to the basic necessities of life - food, shelter and clothing


• The right to one’s parents

 Protection Rights:

• The right to have one’s health protected through immunisation and
  appropriate healthcare


• The right to protection from abuse and exploitation


• The right to be treated fairly and humanely


• The right not to be employed or engaged in activities that harm
  one’s health, education, mental, physical and functional development

 Developmental Rights:

• The right to a basic education


• The right to leisure and to socialise in an environment that is not
  physically and morally harmful

 Participation Rights:

• The right to express one’s opinion


• The right to be listened to


• The right to be consulted according to one’s understanding

Based on definitions from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Appendix 1, Handouts^307