UN Convention on the Rights of Children

The UN Convention on the rights of Children (1989), which has been ratified by all countries except the United States , states in Article 7 that "The child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and, as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents".

Here is a simplified statement of Children's rights by advocates for children:

1. Children have the right to be loved by both parents

2. Children have the right to be allowed to love both parents in return

3. "Every child has a fundamental right and need for an unthreatened and loving relationship with both parents, and to be denied that right by one parent, without sufficient justificaiton such as abuse or neglect, is in itself a form of child abuse"

4. The convention also states that children have the right to be "protected from "all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse."