All children have the right to be cared for, nurtured, and protected and to participate in social life. These basic rights of children are laid down in an international convention: the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1989. In 54 articles, it defines the globally applicable standards for a society suitable for children and the responsibilities of the State and of society to realize children’s rights. The Convention elevates children’s rights to the rank of human rights to which children and young people up to the age of 18 are entitled on an internationally legally binding basis. With the exception of two States, all countries in the world have ratified the CRC. Liechtenstein has been a State Party since 1996 and has to date submitted two country reports to the UN (1998, 2004) on the implementation of the Convention in Liechtenstein.
Since children’s rights are especially threatened in certain situations, the Convention was supplemented by two protocols in 2000. These are the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflicts and the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Liechtenstein has signed both protocols and ratified the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflicts at the beginning of 2005. The ratification of the Optional Protocol on the sale of children is currently being prepared.
From 8-10 May 2002, the General Assembly of the United Nations held a Special Session on Children. Liechtenstein was represented by Prime Minister Otmar Hasler. The goal of the event was to review the global progress made in implementing children’s rights since the World Summit for Children held in 1990 and to ascertain the obstacles that had not yet been surmounted and the new challenges encountered in realizing these rights.
In addition to the UN, the Council of Europe is also working to improve the rights of the child. A number of Council of Europe conventions have a direct effect on the legal situation of children and young people. Liechtenstein has ratified several of these conventions, such as the European Convention on the Adoption of Children, the European Convention on the Legal Status of Children Born out of Wedlock, and the European Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions concerning Custody of Children and on Restoration of Custody of Children.
The commitment on behalf of the rights of the child is also an integral part of the International Humanitarian Cooperation of Liechtenstein. The focus is on the protection of children in armed conflict, the elimination of sexual exploitation of children, the fight against HIV/AIDS, and ensuring free basic education and healthcare.
Further information
- On UN activities
- On Council of Europe activities
- First Liechtenstein country report on the implementation of the CRC (German (PDF, 5.04 MB)
 /English )
- Concluding Observations of the CRC Committee on the first Liechtenstein country report (German (PDF, 63.00 KB) /English (PDF, 126.09 KB) )
- Second Liechtenstein country report on the implementation of the CRC (German (PDF, 1015.34 KB) /English (PDF, 876.71 KB) )
- List of Issues deutsch (PDF, 293.52 KB) / englisch (PDF, 271.51 KB)
- First Liechtenstein country report of 11 December 2007 on the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (German (PDF, 203.40 KB) / English (PDF, 179.51 KB) )
- Speech by Prime Minister Otmar Hasler at the UN Special Session on Children (English (PDF, 21.27 KB) )
Related links
Die Verantwortung für die Inhalte liegt beim Amt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten, 9490 Vaduz, 
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(German)