Rights in the UN Convention and the African Charter

The overall goal of the UN Convention and the African Charter is to promote children’s best interests. The starting point in defining the best interests of the child, therefore, must be to make sure that all their rights are fully realised. Both treaties also make clear what is not in children’s best interests, for example, exposure to all forms of violence, sexual and economic exploitation, harmful traditional practices, and discriminatory laws, policies and practices. Together they provide an important guide to help you assess whether a decision or action may be harmful to a child’s best interests.