CRC General Comment No. 15: Right of the Child to Highest Attainable Standard of Health 

This General Comment provides more guidance on the interpretation of Article 24 of the CRC. In particular, the General Comment:

  • Recommends that all policies and programs affecting children’s health should be grounded in a broad approach to gender equality that ensures young women’s full recognition of equal rights to sexual and reproductive health;
  • Recommends that children should be allowed to consent to certain medical treatments and interventions without the permission of a parent, caregiver, or guardian, such as sexual and reproductive health services, including education and guidance on sexual health, contraception and safe abortion, and;
  • Requires that sexual and reproductive health interventions should be based on the concept of a continuum of care from pre-pregnancy, through pregnancy, childbirth, and throughout the post-partum period.

UN Document: CRC/C/GC/15

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