WHAT IS THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD (UNCROC)?
UNCROC is a human rights treaty which sets out civil, political, social and cultural rights of every child.UNCROC is a human rights treaty which sets out civil, political, social and cultural rights of every child. The Convention has been signed up to by every recognized state except for the United States of America. Every Member State is bound to follow the treaty and is required to report to a United Nations Committee on the state of children in their State every five years. UNICEF NZ operates under the mandate of the UNCROC.
View the convention.
New Zealand adopted UNCROC in 1989 and ratified it on 13 March 1993. On the 20th of November each year UNICEF NZ celebrates the anniversary of the adoption of UNCROC by New Zealand.
The New Zealand government entered three formal reservations to the Convention, meaning that they would not upgrade their laws to comply with certain articles. The reservations were:
For the most part, UNICEF NZ is pleased and proud that New Zealand takes its UNCROC obligations seriously and that most children in New Zealand enjoy a good quality of life. However, we are mindful that not all children have the standard of living expected in a rich country like New Zealand. Our duty is to advocate for responses to UNCROC that guarantee the best interests of every child. New Zealand is required to report on the State of Children regularly. Read the 2011 Concluding Observations on the state of Children in New ZealandMinister of foreign affairs, Murray McCully on 9 December 2011 and Minister of Local Government, David Carter,5 November 2012 have confirmed that Local Authorities are bound, like central Government, to the obligations of the UNCROC.
View the convention.
New Zealand adopted UNCROC in 1989 and ratified it on 13 March 1993. On the 20th of November each year UNICEF NZ celebrates the anniversary of the adoption of UNCROC by New Zealand.
The New Zealand government entered three formal reservations to the Convention, meaning that they would not upgrade their laws to comply with certain articles. The reservations were:
- Children whose parents do not have a legal right to be in New Zealand are not entitled to education, health and welfare benefits.
- There is no minimum age or agreed conditions of employing children.
- Children in custody can be held with adult prisoners in some circumstances.
For the most part, UNICEF NZ is pleased and proud that New Zealand takes its UNCROC obligations seriously and that most children in New Zealand enjoy a good quality of life. However, we are mindful that not all children have the standard of living expected in a rich country like New Zealand. Our duty is to advocate for responses to UNCROC that guarantee the best interests of every child. New Zealand is required to report on the State of Children regularly. Read the 2011 Concluding Observations on the state of Children in New ZealandMinister of foreign affairs, Murray McCully on 9 December 2011 and Minister of Local Government, David Carter,5 November 2012 have confirmed that Local Authorities are bound, like central Government, to the obligations of the UNCROC.