Article 1: Meaning of the term child

Convention text

Under the Convention, a child is any human being under the age of 18. At 18, you reach the age of majority. However, in some cases, a child may reach the age of majority earlier, depending on the law of the country.

Key point

According to the Convention, every person under the age of 18 is a child.

Explanation

It is important to determine what constitutes a child, as this defines to whom the Convention applies. A child is anyone under the age of 18. This means that children’s rights apply to everyone under the age of 18. This also includes those who are almost 18 – it does not make a difference. The Convention ceases to apply once a person reaches the age of 18 and has therefore reached the age of majority. Once you have reached the age of majority, you are an adult in the eyes of the law. This does not mean that you are no longer protected. Various human rights treaties continue to protect your rights once you have reached the age of majority.