This article was originally written for the Spring 2025 edition of Milestones, RCPCH’s quarterly magazine for paediatricians, by Toby, Nathaniel and Xai
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is a set of 54 articles (or ‘rules’) universally agreed on by more than 195 countries as important in upholding the rights of children and young people. Upheld in law, the rules ensure children and young people can thrive – including how they should be able to rest, relax and play, receive an education, and be kept safe from harm.
All of the work RCPCH &Us takes a rights-based approach. We urge other professionals to do the same. Here are the rights that are most important to us.
Article 24: The right to access the best possible healthcare
To us, this means not only having access to the best possible services but also to the best trained healthcare professionals. We have seen patient feedback forms used to great effect, enabling our clinicians to develop new knowledge and skills. We believe that paediatric training for doctors, nurses and other roles should have input from children and young people to make sure it is patient-led and to ensure young people’s voices are included in the care they receive.
Article 12: the right to give our opinions on matters that affect us
This includes healthcare settings, but is not limited to them – if a young person is passionate any issue, they should be free to voice their views on it. The most important part of this Article to us, however, is that children have the right to be listened to and taken seriously. We’re sure many examples come to mind of when children and young people have been dismissed, whether due to perceived lack of experience, knowledge or something else. Younger voices must be heard. We are the ones who will be most affected by changes being made today.
Article 17: the right to access information from the media
This Article is important – as is receiving information when it’s relevant to our age and the stage we are at. It should be provided in schools, by the government and through books, TV and the internet. It should be in a language we can understand and in a format that can be shared by the people who are looking after us, when the time is right. Some services already do this, such as the BBC, which has CBeebies and CBBC for younger viewers. However, other services could be improved by having a section that’s aimed at younger audiences.
Article 4: governments much do all they can to ensure every child can enjoy their rights.
This is so important as it’s what makes children’s rights real. It’s a government promise that says ‘We’re not just going to talk about rights; we’re going to make it happen.’ It’s the part that says: if a child needs education, healthcare or a safe place to grow up, governments will make sure they get it. Imagine a child who can’t go to school because their family is struggling, or they’re sick but there’s no doctor nearby. Without this Article, those children might be left to fend for themselves. It’s a way of saying that every single child matters and that their wellbeing should be top priority. Without it children’s rights are just words on the page; with it, those rights becomes actions – a chance for every child to have the life they deserve.
