UN 2019 Resolution on the Rights of the Child

Date: 12th February 2020
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care, Family reunification, Care Experienced children, Protection from abuse or neglect

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The 2019 Resolution on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 2019. The Resolution focuses specifically on children without parental care.

The resolution, which was adopted by consensus:

• emphasises the importance of growing up in a family environment, the right of the child to a family, and the right of the child deprived of family environment to

to receive special protection and assistance;

• highlights the rights of children with disabilities with respect to family life;
• opposes the unnecessary separation of children from their families and the unlawful or arbitrary deprivation of liberty of children;
• stresses that children should not be separated from their families solely due to poverty or lack of access to resources;
• encourages efforts to reunify families where in the best interests of the child;
• recognises the harm of institutional care for children;
• expresses concern regarding the large and growing number of migrant children, particularly those who are unaccompanied or separated from their parents or primary caregivers;
• urges countries to strengthen child welfare and child protection systems and improve care reform efforts;
• urges countries to provide a range of alternative care options and to protect all children without parental care, among other recommendations.

Read the Resolution.

Step Ahead has produced a child-friendly infographic explaining the key recommendations made at the Resolution.

• Download the child-friendly infographic.