On the occasion of the 20th anniversary today of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Presidency of the European Union reiterates the importance the EU attaches to the Convention which, together with its Optional Protocols, constitute the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child. 

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is a landmark document which has fundamentally changed the way the international community, governments, NGOs and many other actors view children and their rights. As the most ratified international human rights treaty, the Convention represents the global commitment to the rights of the child.

There is a need to continue to translate the pledge the Convention entails into tangible action that reaches every child with the incontrovertible message that they must be free to fully enjoy their human rights. The Presidency underlines that the EU is fully committed to tackling the challenges and stands ready to work with partners to deliver on our collective promise for a better future for the world’s children.