A world fit for all children: including the rights of children with disabilities in the UN Convention on the rights of the child national plans of action

“Each girl and boy is born free and equal in dignity and rights: therefore, all forms of discrimination affecting children must end.” UNCRC, Article 2

 INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the World Fit for Children (WFfC)

In 1991 the historic World Summit for Children culminated in the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This Convention, ratified by every government in the world (with the exception of Somalia and the United States), serves as an international human rights treaty that calls for the development of national policies and programmes to ensure that all young people (defined as less than 18 years of age) get the chance to grow up in a protective, nurturing and stimulating environment, right from the beginning. In May 2002 the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Children was held in follow-up to the 1991 Summit and brought together all signatory governments to reaffirm their commitment to the UNCRC and to address emerging issues fundamental to securing the human rights of children. From this meeting resulted A World Fit for Children (WFfC); a document that outlines more specific obligations for achieving the commitments enshrined in the UNCRC.