Thirtieth anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: advancing a child rights-based approach to child health and well-being

This paper marks the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by arguing that child health and well-being should be grounded in a child rights-based approach. The authors explain that global health challenges facing children are rooted in social and environmental factors that can be addressed through the CRC's framework. They propose that principles of universality, interdependence, and accountability should guide paediatric and child health practice as a matter of social justice and health equity.

Key points

• Child health challenges are rooted in social and environmental determinants, not only medical factors
• The CRC articulates civil-political, social, economic and cultural rights needed to address these determinants
• A child rights-based approach provides strategies and tools to transform health practice into a rights, justice and equity-based paradigm
• Three core principles—universality, interdependence and accountability—define the approach
• The 30th anniversary provides an opportunity to translate child rights principles into global paediatric practice

Limitations

This is a position or policy paper that articulates a framework rather than evaluating implementation or outcomes. It does not present empirical data on the effectiveness of applying a child rights-based approach to health practice, nor does it describe specific interventions or their results.