UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child lays international standards for the rights and needs of children under 18 and is one of the human rights international treaties with the highest rate of ratification.

The Convention specifically calls on states to provide legal, educational, health and institutional measures to safe keep and guard children from physical and mental harm, while respecting the rights, duties and responsibilities of parents. Article 19 spells out the obligations above and is relevant to the protection of children against FGM.