The images are heart-breaking, the statistics mind-numbing:¹

• UNICEF estimates that 1 million children are trafficked each year for sexual exploitation²

• There are 300 000 child soldiers in 30 conflicts around the world³

• In 23 countries more than 30% of children under 5 years of age are moderately or severely underweight

• There are at least 25 countries where more than 15% of children die before they reach the age of 5

• UNICEF puts the number of primary school age children out of school worldwide at 121 million, with a marked excess of girls—65 million girls and 56 million boys.⁴

A recent review on the impact of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on these statistics reveals little progress or even regression in some countries, but real change in others.¹ For example, there is significant improvement in the proportion of girls enrolled in school and in the number of children completing primary school.

The UK is a signatory to the Convention and although UN Conventions do not have the force of law, countries do report at regular intervals to the relevant UN Committee on their progress in implementation. The UNCRC does not have the same force as the Human Rights Act,⁵ although it is widely quoted in policy documents.⁶ The concept of “Rights” cannot change human behaviour, but it “adds an element of accountability and a legal framework that can be used to make governments wake up to their obligations to make things happen”.⁷

The Convention contains some Articles related to civil and political rights which are deemed to be absolute and others dealing with economic, cultural, and social issues, which each country should implement progressively according to its …