The worldwide organization UNICEF – the United Nations Children's Fund – focuses on long-term help for children. It is represented in more than 190 countries. For almost 70 years it has pursued its mission of protecting children's lives and helping their families provide for children's basic needs so that they can live and develop. Besides securing basic needs – children's access to food, water and health care – it focuses on education and on protecting children from all forms of violence and discrimination.
In 1989, world leaders decided that all children need protection and special care guaranteed by a specific law. On 20.11.1989, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child . This document was gradually ratified by 195 countries (except the USA), making it the most widely accepted human rights treaty in history.
Unlike adults, children have no way to fight for, exercise or claim their rights by any legitimate means we know of. Children cannot vote, write a petition or file a criminal complaint with a court. Children need protection and special care that adults do not need.