1924 - 2024
Centenary of the
Geneva Declaration
Read the declaration in the language of your choice*
2024 Geneva Declaration
on the Rights of the Child
On 20 November, 2024,
Commemorating the centennial of the Geneva Declaration, adopted by the League of Nations on 26 September 1924, the first declaration of children’s rights endorsed by an inter-governmental body and therefore affirming the universality of children’s rights,
Recalling the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) adopted 35 years ago (20/11/1989) and since ratified by 196 States Parties (out of 197), many of which also acceding to the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OPSC), the Optional Protocol on children in armed conflict (OPAC), and the Optional Protocol on a communications procedure (OPIC),
Taking note of many significant achievements over the last 100 years with regard to children’s rights and wellbeing,
Alarmed nonetheless by the hundreds of millions of children around the world affected by poverty, violence, and climate change and the many other challenges they face in their lifetime that impact their physical health and mental resilience,
Deeply preoccupied by the plight of the children of today and of future generations unless urgent, comprehensive and collective action is undertaken to protect and promote their rights,
Recognizing the exceptional contributions of all human rights defenders and in particular child human rights defenders,
We exhort each and every State (local and national authorities), organisation -both governmental and non-governmental-, and all concerned persons, children and adults alike, to
● reaffirm their commitment, also in the spirit of international cooperation and solidarity, to respect, protect, and fulfil the rights of all children enshrined in the UNCRC and its Optional protocols without any discrimination,
● endorse the following Renewed Geneva Declaration for Children’s Rights calling for as a matter of priority to commit that all children of today and of future generations:
1. live in conditions of dignity and wellbeing, out of poverty, and with the highest attainable standard of health,
2. grow up in communities no longer affected by armed conflicts,
3. be listened to and have their opinions count in all decisions affecting them, thus recognizing their fundamental right to participate in shaping the communities they live in,
4. flourish in a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment conducive to their survival, development, and to the enjoyment of all their rights,
5. benefit from a safe and empowering experience in the fast-evolving digital environment in which they can conserve their agency and be digitally literate to navigate securely,
6. be protected from all forms of violence (physical, psychological, and sexual) in all settings, including in the home,
7. have their best interests respected in all current and future biotechnological developments,
8. access child-friendly systems of justice and commensurate remedies when their rights are violated,
9. are provided with free and inclusive early, primary, secondary, and vocational education with no discrimination,
10. experience the positive uniqueness of childhood that every person could wish for himself, herself, or themselves.
Declaration on the Rights of the Child
Already committed
Il y a cent ans, Eglantyne Jebb a déclenché un mouvement universel : celui des droits de l’enfant ! Sa Déclaration, officialisée par la Société des Nations, symbolise la révolution du statut ... +
Jean Zermatten
Ancien président, Comité des droits de l'enfant de l'ONU
Suisse
Il y a cent ans, Eglantyne Jebb a déclenché un mouvement universel : celui des droits de l’enfant ! Sa Déclaration, officialisée par la Société des Nations, symbolise la révolution du statut de l’enfant, devenu personne, qui ne doit pas seulement être protégé et éduqué, mais qui détient ses propres droits ! Saura-t-on assez la remercier ?
In a time where Human Rights are declining in the view of State parties and individuals , where violence in all forms, insecurity, disasters and man-made declining of environment are threatening ch... +
Renate Winter
Former Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Austria
In a time where Human Rights are declining in the view of State parties and individuals , where violence in all forms, insecurity, disasters and man-made declining of environment are threatening children, I will do what I can to especially fight for equal rights for girls, as traditions and religions prevent their opportunities for a fully self-determined life.
Volker Türk
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Austria
By celebrating and ‘updating’ the Geneva Declaration, we pay tribute to the early child rights champions, and we recommit to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of all children en... +
Ann Skelton
Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
South Africa
By celebrating and ‘updating’ the Geneva Declaration, we pay tribute to the early child rights champions, and we recommit to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of all children enshrined in the UNCRC and its Optional Protocols. We remind ourselves there is still an enormous amount of work to be done.
The Declaration of Geneva has provided the foundation for international children’s rights. In today’s world where children face some many challenges and crises, we need to remind oursel... +
Ton Liefaard
Professor, UNICEF Chair in Children's Rights, Leiden University
Netherlands
The Declaration of Geneva has provided the foundation for international children’s rights. In today’s world where children face some many challenges and crises, we need to remind ourselves of the very core of that foundation: Mankind owes to children the best it has to give and all children of today and of future generations are entitled to that.
There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” – so proclaimed Madiba Nelson Mandela. The 1924 Geneva Declaration asserted th... +
Anwarul K. Chowdhury
Ambassador, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and two times chair of the UNICEF Executive Board
Bangladesh
There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” – so proclaimed Madiba Nelson Mandela. The 1924 Geneva Declaration asserted that humanity “owes to the Child the best that it has to give.” As the world celebrates its 100th anniversary, I am inspired to sign the Renewed Geneva Declaration and take the vow to uphold and ensure the inherent rights of the child in the best interest of humanity.
The end... +
Aneeta Ghoorah
Ombudsperson for Children
Mauritius
The endorsement of this Renewed Declaration is a must. Over the last 100 years, some progress—but only some—has been made with regard to the protection and safeguard of the several rights of children. The second reason responds directly to an evolved context where new challenges have emerged, especially with the rapid progress in technology. It thus behooves us all to commit ourselves to fulfilling our universal obligations that are so succinctly captured in the 2024 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child.
Today, by celebrating the 2024 Geneva Declaration, we reaffirm our commitment to uphold the rights of all children. Protecting children’s rights to safety, education, and dignity is not just ... +
Virginia Gamba
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
Argentina
Today, by celebrating the 2024 Geneva Declaration, we reaffirm our commitment to uphold the rights of all children. Protecting children’s rights to safety, education, and dignity is not just a moral duty but an imperative. This is crucial for their future and for building lasting peace.
Our 2024 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of Rights of the Child is an aspirational call to mobilize and to truly put children at the centre of our collective human concern. But vision without acti... +
Philip D. Jaffé
Professor; Member, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Switzerland
Our 2024 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of Rights of the Child is an aspirational call to mobilize and to truly put children at the centre of our collective human concern. But vision without action is a daydream, we must now bend political will into concrete steps fulfinling the rights of all children.
« We are often told that our aims are impossible - that there has always been child suffering & always will be. We know. It's impossible only if we make it so. It's impossible only if we refuse to attempt it. »
EGLANTYNE JEBB
2024 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child
Stand up for Children's Rights!
Every signature counts, yours more than any other.
If you do not sign the Declaration, it is as if you have chosen not to make your voice heard.