Verdrag inzake de rechten van het kind, New York, 20-11-1989

1. States Parties recognize the rights of the child to freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assembly.

This means that the countries that are parties to this Convention (States Parties) acknowledge and accept that children have specific rights. These rights are the freedom of association, which is the right to join or form groups, and the freedom of peaceful assembly, which is the right to gather with others in a peaceful manner.

2. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of these rights other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

This section states that no limitations (restrictions) may be put on the use (exercise) of these rights (freedom of association and peaceful assembly). However, exceptions are allowed if these restrictions meet two conditions: first, they must be imposed in accordance with (in conformity with) the law, and second, they must be necessary in a democratic society. Such necessary restrictions can only be for specific purposes:

• in the interests of national security or public safety,
• to maintain public order (also referred to by the French term ordre public),
• for the protection of public health or morals, or
• for the protection of the rights and freedoms of other people.