Appendix 4 | Convention on the Rights of the Child (simplified) Article 18: Responsibility of parents Parents are the main people responsible for bringing up a child. When the child does not have any parents, another adult will have this responsibility and they are called a ’guardian’. Parents and guardians should always consider what is best for that child. Governments should help them. Where a child has both parents, both of them should be responsible for bringing up the child. Article 19: Protection from violence Governments must protect children from violence, abuse and being neglected by anyone who looks after them. Article 20: Children without families Every child who cannot be looked after by their own family has the right to be looked after properly by people who respect the child’s religion, culture, language and other aspects of their life. Article 21: Children who are adopted When children are adopted, the most important thing is to do what is best for them. If a child cannot be properly looked after in their own country – for example by living with another family – then they might be adopted in another country. Article 22: Refugee children Children who move from their home country to another country as refugees (because it was not safe for them to stay there) should get help and protection and have the same rights as children born in that country. Article 23: Children with disabilities Every child with a disability should enjoy the best possible life in society. Governments should remove all obstacles for children with disabilities to become independent and to participate actively in the community. Article 24: Health, water, food, environment Children have the right to the best health care possible, clean water to drink, healthy food and a clean and safe environment to live in. All adults and children should have information about how to stay safe and healthy. Article 25: Review of a child’s placement Every child who has been placed somewhere away from home – for their care, protection or health – should have their situation checked regularly to see if everything is going well and if this is still the best place for the child to be. Article 26: Social and economic help Governments should provide money or other support to help children from poor families. Safeguarding Children: Using a child rights impact assessment to improve our laws and policies | 91