The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is a legally-binding international Convention signed by 156 countries of the world agreeing and setting out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities.

The Republic of Zambia signed the convention in 1998 as did most countries and also ratified it. Based on the Human Rights approach to development the Convention creates definitions including that of a child that all countries that are signatories need to abide by. It covers many of the areas and spheres that relate to and deal with children.  The Main categories of Rights are categorised as Survival (Health mostly), Developmental (Educational mostly), Protection and Participation.