Children’s rights are human rights. -United Nations

December 10, International Human Rights Day, concludes the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign which begins on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and provides people around the world with an opportunity to come together to call out, speak up against, and renew the commitment to end gender-based violence.

Human Rights Day commemorates the anniversary of one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges:

Explore the landmark human rights document using animation.

Heritage Minutes

Did you know that Canada played an instrumental role in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?


This Human Rights Day we focus on how human rights are a pathway to solutions, playing a critical role as a preventative, protective and transformative force for good. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, “Human rights are the foundation for peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.”

This year’s theme is a call to acknowledge the importance and relevance of human rights in our everyday lives. We have an opportunity to change perceptions by speaking up against hate speech, correcting misinformation and countering disinformation. This is the time to mobilize action to reinvigorate a global movement for human rights.


We live in challenging times. As our society becomes more diverse, the human rights challenges we face become more complex, and the need to bring a solid grounding in human rights becomes more critical.

The Ontario Ministry of Education has implemented its Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy across Ontario, and has also updated how schools need to approach discipline. These steps are part of a larger vision of embedding human rights into our education system.

These changes reflect how education services are delivered – but there is also a curriculum requirement to teach about human rights. That’s where this guide can help. First introduced in 1995, the guide offers information on Ontario’s Human Rights Code (the Code) and how to deal with complaints. This third edition has been updated to reflect the many changes that have happened in human rights over the past decade.

A guide to teaching human rights in schools by the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Children’s rights are human rights for children.

Since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, a number of human rights treaties have been developed to recognize the basic rights of all persons. Children have these rights, too. Children (under age 18) also have specific rights, recognized in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, given their vulnerability and dependence. All children’s human rights apply to all children at all times, without exception. The provision and protection of children’s Convention rights is the primary responsibility of governments at all levels, and realizing the promise of the Convention is an ongoing, progressive commitment.

Children have the rights to:

  • Protection (e.g., from abuse, exploitation and harmful substances)
  • Provision (e.g., for education, health care and an adequate standard of living)
  • Participation (e.g., listening to children’s views and respecting their evolving capacities)
  • Specific protections and provisions for vulnerable populations such as Indigenous children and children with disabilities
Read The Convention on the Rights of the Child
in Child-Friendly Language
-Unicef Canada
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