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GENERAL
CRC/GC/2003/4
1 July 2003
Original: ENGLISH
COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
Thirty-third session
19 May-6 June 2003
GENERAL COMMENT NO. 4 (2003)
Adolescent health and development in the context of the
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Introduction
1.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as “every human being below
the age of 18 years unless, under the law applicable, majority is attained earlier” (art. 1).
Consequently, adolescents up to 18 years old are holders of all the rights enshrined in the
Convention; they are entitled to special protection measures and, according to their evolving
capacities, they can progressively exercise their rights (art. 5).
2.
Adolescence is a period characterized by rapid physical, cognitive and social changes,
including sexual and reproductive maturation; the gradual building up of the capacity to assume
adult behaviours and roles involving new responsibilities requiring new knowledge and skills.
While adolescents are in general a healthy population group, adolescence also poses new
challenges to health and development owing to their relative vulnerability and pressure from
society, including peers, to adopt risky health behaviour. These challenges include developing
an individual identity and dealing with one’s sexuality. The dynamic transition period to
adulthood is also generally a period of positive changes, prompted by the significant capacity of
adolescents to learn rapidly, to experience new and diverse situations, to develop and use critical
thinking, to familiarize themselves with freedom, to be creative and to socialize.
GE.03-42724 (E) 100803