Logo UNICEF Innocenti
Office of Research-Innocenti
menu icon

GLOSSARY

logo

Majority

     IRC site

CRC Article = 1
Note:
Majority refers to the legal age at which political, economic or other forms of participation begin in various countries. In most countries majority is attained at a certain age. However, in some countries majority can also be attained through, for example, marriage or military service. Under Article 1 of the CRC once a person attains the age of 18 years the provisions of the CRC are no longer automatically applicable to him or her. Recognizing that 18 is not necessarily consonant with the age at which majority is attained in some countries, this provision allows those States Parties in which a child below the age of 18 years can attain majority to retain that age as the upper age limit for the automatic application of the rights set forth in the CRC.

See also:
Definition of the child   Minimum age(s)