The meaning of some words used
Click on a word or scroll down to see its meaning
Adult
everyone who is 18 or older. (This is what the Convention on the Rights of the ChildA very important set of rules about how countries should respect children's rights. means by "children". In different countries, people are considered to become adults at different ages. This website uses the CRC's definition, but because some people who are under 18 don't like being called "children," it often talks about "children and young people.")
Assault
the crime of hurting someone on purpose.
Ban
to say that something is not allowed. When hitting children is 'banned' in a country, nobody in that country is allowed to hit children.
Campaigning
trying to change something that you believe is wrong.
Child
everyone who is under 18. (This is what the Convention on the Rights of the ChildA very important set of rules about how countries should respect children's rights. means by "children". In different countries, people are considered to become adults at different ages. This website uses the CRC's definition, but because some people who are under 18 don't like being called "children," it often talks about "children and young people.")
Corporal punishment
punishing someone using physical force, in a way which is meant to hurt them or make them uncomfortable. Read the questions and answers about corporal punishment to find out more.
Discrimination
treating one person or group of people worse than others without a good reason. For example, treating people of a certain religion badly, or treating younger people worse than older people.
Equal protection
when we say 'equal protection,' we mean that children should be protected from all kinds of violence as much as adults are. For example, if it is illegal to hit an adult, then it should be illegal to hit a child too.
Government policy
decisions or plans made by the government. Policy is not the same as lawA set of rules that tells people in a country how to behave. - generally, it is considered weaker and less important. In some countries, corporal punishment is against government policy, but it is not against the law.
Human rights
basic rights that people around the world agree that everyone has.
Illegal
against the law.
Law
a set of rules that tells people in a country how to behave.
Lawful
See legal.
Legal
saying that something is ‘legal’ or ‘lawful’ in a country means that the law in that country says it is OK.
Physical integrity
owning and having control over your own body. Everyone has a right to physical integrity and to feel that their body is safe from all forms of violence.
Policy
See "government policy".
Positive discipline
non-violent ways of caring for children and teaching them how to behave.
Prohibition
the same as banning something.
Protection
keeping something or someone safe. ‘Protecting’ a child from violence means keeping them safe from violence.
Research
finding out about something.
Rights
See human rights.
Study
a piece of research. Often, people who do research write about what they found out in a study report.
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
a group of adults in the United Nations who check how well countries who have signed up to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildA very important set of rules about how countries should respect children's rights. are respecting children's rights. Read more about it.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC or CRC)
a very important set of rules about how countries should respect children's rights. Read more about it.
United Nations (UN)
an international organisation which most of the countries in the world are members of. One of the things it does is work to make sure that governments respect the human rightsBasic rights that people around the world agree that everyone has. of people in their countries.
Unlawful
See illegal.
UN Study on Violence against Children
a very big piece of research where adults from the United Nations found out all about violence against children all over the world. Read more about it.
Violate
if someone’s human rights are “violated,” it means their human rights have not been respected.
Violence
hurting someone on purpose.
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