Awareness and knowledge about children’s rights within States’ institutions, civil society, legal and other professionals, community actors and children themselves is crucial for the success of children’s rights legislative reform.

The requirement to raise awareness on children’s rights is laid out in article 42 CRC, which requires States Parties to make the principles and provisions of the CRC widely known to adults and children alike.

In addition, article 29(b) CRC provides that child rights education should be directed to the development of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. This includes respect for children’s rights.

No matter how complete and comprehensive legislation may be with respect to children's rights, there can be no effective implementation unless there is general agreement among a significant segment of the population that children’s rights are valid and should be respected, protected and fulfilled.

Much of the apprehension toward children's rights can be attributed to a lack of knowledge or understanding of the CRC and its principles.

• E.g. This was also one of the findings of a study conducted on child-friendly justice in Georgia (see Liefaard et al. 2024).
  

Therefore, children’s rights legislative reform provides a good opportunity to educate professionals and members of the public on children’s rights.

• This education can take place via discussions about specific laws, enabling people to understand rights as more than abstract concepts but an essential foundation for practical action on behalf of children and their families.
• By connecting the discussion on rights to an assessment of the effects of actual laws on the lives of children, those most directly involved with children can see how child rights are translated into real improvements in children’s lives.

It is particularly important for government officials, members of the judiciary and law enforcement officials who are responsible for the implementation and enforcement of legislation related to children have knowledge on children’s rights.

Likewise, it is essential that children receive information and education on their rights. This will allow them to participate in the legislative reform process.

Child rights education should be an integral part of the national school curriculum, with sufficient time allocated as well as engaging and age-appropriate content. Teachers should be trained on the content and use of the material.

UNICEF has developed a number of tools that can be used to provide children with child rights education; see for example:

• Child rights education in early childhood
• Child rights education in primary school
• Child rights education post-primary