UNCRC Time Line
1802
Children in factories must not work more than 12 hours a day. They must
have at least 2 outfits and they can not sleep more than two to a bed.
1833
All children must get at least 2 hours education a day
1880
School education becomes compulsory until the age of ten
1889
The first law to protect children from abuse (a similar law protecting animals
had been introduced sixty years before this)
1918
School education becomes compulsory until the age of fourteen
1923
Declaration on the rights of the child adopted by the League of Nations (the
Full runner to the United Nations)
1944
The school leaving age rose to fifteen
1945
The United Nations is set up to keep international peace and security and to
promote respect for human rights.
1951
Auk government agrees to follow the European convention on human rights
1966
Children (and adults) in the UK can now try to protect their rights through the
European court of human rights in Strasbourg France
1973
The school leaving ages is raised to sixteen
1975
Social workers are given a new duty, to take seriously the wishes and feelings
of children in care.
1979
Poland suggests there should be a new human rights treaty just for children
1989
Convention on the Rights of the Child agreed by the United Nations (the idea
was first suggested by Poland in 1979)
1991
UK government agrees to follow the UN convention on the rights of the child
(with some reservations) and the children’s rights alliance for England is set
up.
1998
Human Rights act makes it easier for children (and adults) to protect their
rights under the European convention of human rights.
2002
Second examination of the UK by the UN committee on the rights of the child
(the first took place in 1995) The Un makes 78 recommendations for actions.
2005
Professor Sir Al Aynsley- Green is appointed as England’s first children’s
commissioner.
2006
A law is passed to set up the equality and human rights commission: a
powerful body that promotes and protects human rights.
2008
The third examination of the UK by the UN committee on the rights of the child
the UN makes 124 recommendations about where the government must
better protect children’s human rights.