Children's Rights are like Human Rights, which apply to all people around the world. In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly created the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which contains all the rights that all the people in the world are free to have and practice. All the humans in the world have rights, which are things they deserve, such as freedom, equality, and respect. Children have additional rights because they need support from others to stay safe and to grow into healthy and responsible adults. For example, children have the right to education, to live with a caring family, and to be protected. Without the help of teachers and bus drivers, how could children get to school and exercise their right to learn? Without parents, grandparents and other family, who would make sure children live in a loving home? Without nurses and doctors, how would children stay healthy? Even farmers, scientists and coaches help children stay healthy by providing nutritious food, clean water and exercise. Some children, like orphans and kids in foster homes, need extra help to practice all their rights because they don't always have support from a family or community. The government is also responsible for protecting the rights of all children — no matter how young or old, where they live, what their abilities are, or what they look like. If people around the world help children practice their rights, then children learn to live in peace and respect other people as well as their environment.
