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UNCRC Article of the Week (WC: 13th September 2021)

This week's article of the week is: 

Article 8: I have a right to an identity

A child or young person’s identity is made up of many different parts. Among other things, it includes:

• their name and nationality
• their race, culture, religion and language
• their appearance, abilities, gender identity and sexual orientation.

Article 8 of the UNCRC is about a child or young person’s name, nationality and family relationships. It says that the government shouldn’t interfere with a child or young person’s right to any of these. It also says the government should be able to help if any of these things are taken from them illegally.

As well as this, this Article says official records should be kept of who a child or young person is to make sure information about their name, nationality or birth parents isn’t lost.