States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions, or beliefs of the child's parents, legal guardians, or family members.

Children face all kinds of discrimination just because of their age. They are denied voting rights in countries across the world as well as access to vital services including for sexual and reproductive health and drug rehabilitation. Particular types of children also suffer particular types of discrimination. This may be because of their gender or because of disability, poverty and social status, all of which can divide society’s "haves" and "have nots" from a very early age.