Children’s rights to support and to be protected
Updated: 30 September 2022
Manuela Leporesi
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Credits
Tips and information
Children have the right:
- To special education and care if they have a disability
- To help from the government if they are poor or in need
- To help if they are a refugee and have been forced to leave their home and live in another country
- To be protected from being hurt and mistreated, in body or mind
- To adequate nutritious food and clothing
- To have a safe place to live and clean drinking-water and to have other basic needs met
Parents and care givers have the right:
- To be able to get the services, information and education they need to care for their children
- To receive support from the government if they need help to look after children, especially for food, clothing and housing
Related rights
Videos & infographics
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Question and Answers
All →Factsheets
Publications
All →Priority indicators to monitor the impact of heat exposure on maternal, newborn and child health
Ensuring competency for providers of breastfeeding support and care
Strengthening capacity for newborn screening, diagnosis and management of birth defects: WHO technical consultation on planning and implementing services integrated into national health systems in low- and middle-income countries
Maternal mortality in fragile and conflict-affected situations: technical brief
Reports
All →Report of the 12th meeting of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group of Experts for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition 18–19 November 2025
Kangaroo mother care: a clinical practice guide
The WHO PROPS Trial (PRObiotics in Preterm and Small for gestational age infants)
Integration across the life course
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