Every child has the right to health.
UNICEF/HQ04-0949/Shehzad Noorani
The right to health:
Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, every child in the world has the right to good health, regardless of how much money their government has to spend on health care. You have the right to get the things you need to stay healthy, and to live in an environment which doesn't harm your health.
What the CRC says:
- The right to health is spelled out in article 24, which says:
- You have the right to good health and to good quality health care.
- All children have the right to clean water, nutritious food and a clean environment so that they can stay healthy. Rich countries should help poorer countries achieve this.
- You also have the right to be protected from things that may harm your health, such as dangerous work, abuse and exploitation.
Do all children get their right to health?
Around the world, over 290 million children don't have access to basic health care. Around 32 per cent of children under five in developing countries are malnourished and many people don't have access to safe water and sanitation. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of children worldwide aren't getting the protection they need to keep them safe and healthy.