The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) endorses the Convention on the Rights of the Child and encourages its member organisations to promote its implementation and monitoring.

The Convention sets out the rights in 54 articles and two optional protocols. It spells out the basic human rights that children everywhere have the right: 

• to survival
• to develop to the fullest
• to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation 
• to participate fully in family, cultural and social life

The four core principles of the Convention are non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child. Every right spelled out in the Convention is inherent to the human dignity and harmonious development of every child. The Convention protects children's rights by setting standards in

Health: 'Health' is defined in the WHO constitution of 1948 as a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

See also Health promotion

See full list of glossary terms

care; education; and legal, civil and social services.