The General Assembly made the current Declaration of Children's Rights so that children can have a happy childhood and enjoy, for their own benefit and that of society, the rights and freedoms stated therein, and it encourages individual men and women and private organisations, local authorities and national governments to recognise these rights and fight to ensure that they are respected, through legal measures, and that they are adopted progressively in line with the following principles:
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Principle 1
Children shall enjoy all the rights laid down in this Declaration. These rights shall be recognised for all children, without any exception, distinction or discrimination whatsoever for reasons of race, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinions, national or social origin, economic, birth or other status, whether pertaining to children themselves or their family.
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Principle 2
Children shall enjoy special protection and be provided with opportunities and services, all pursuant to law and other means, so that they can develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a healthy and normal way, in conditions of freedom and dignity. When promulgating laws with this aim, the key consideration will be the overwhelming interest of the child.
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Principle 3
Children have a right, from birth, to a name and nationality.
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Principle 4
Children must enjoy the benefits of social security. They must have a right to grow and develop in good health; to this end both they and their mothers must be provided with special care, including pre-natal and post-natal care. Children must have a right to adequate food, housing, recreation and medical services.
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Principle 5
Physically or mentally impaired children, or those suffering some social disadvantage, must receive the special treatment, education and care that their specific case requires.
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Principle 6
Children, in order to fully and harmoniously develop their personality, require love and understanding. Whenever possible they should grow up within a family and under the responsibility of their parents and, in any event, in an affective and secure moral and physical environment; and except in exceptional circumstances, children should not be separated from their mother at a young age. Society and public authorities have an obligation to provide special care for orphans lacking adequate means to survive. State or other subsidies should be granted to maintain children in large families.
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Principle 7
Children have a right to receive free and mandatory education, at least in elementary stages. They will be provided with an education in line with their general culture, and which enables them, in a culture of equal opportunities, to develop their skills and individual opinions, sense of moral and social responsibility, and become a valued member of society.
The greater interest of children must be the governing principles for those responsible for their education and guidance; said responsibility lies, in the first instance, on parents.
Children must have a right to enjoy games and recreational activities, which should be aimed at achieving educational goals; society and public authorities will do all possible to encourage enjoyment of this right.
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Principle 8
Children must, under all circumstances, be among the first to receive protection and aid.
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Principle 9
Children must be protected against any form of abandonment, cruelty and exploitation. They must not be badly treated in any way.
Children must not be allowed to work before a suitable minimum age; under no circumstances must they carry out, or be allowed to carry out, work that could damage their health or education, or prevent their physical, mental or moral development.
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Principle 10
Children must be protected against practices that could lead to racial, religious or any other type of discrimination. They should be educated in a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship between peoples, peace and universal brotherhood, fully aware that they need to dedicate their energies and skills to the service of their peers.
Source: Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights. Geneva, Switzerland.
www.cinu.org.mx/temas/dh/acnudh.htm