Definitions from UNESCO,UNICEF and WHO

UNICEF
According to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) a child is any person under the age of
18, and that all children have all these rights, no matter who they are, where they live, what
language they speak, what their religion is, what they think, what they look like, if they are a boy
or girl, if they have a disability, if they are rich or poor, and no matter who their parents or families
are or what their parents or families believe or do. On the other hand, adolescence is a defining
time in the development of a child that is characterized by rapid physical growth and neurological
sculpting, the onset of puberty and sexual maturity. It is a critical period for individual identity
development when young people are figuring out who they want to be in the world; an opportunity
for growth, exploration and creativity. Positive social relationships and environments enhance
feelings of inclusion and belonging and lead to positive outcomes.
UNESCO
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) a child
is defined as every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable
to the child, majority is attained earlier. Adolescence, on the other hand, is a distinct stage that
marks the transition between childhood and adulthood. The Swiss developmental psychologist
Jean Piaget described adolescence as the period during which individuals’ cognitive abilities fully
mature. According to Piaget, the transition from late childhood to adolescence is marked by the
attainment of formal operational thought, the hallmark of which is abstract reasoning.
WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) included in the age-based definition of “child”, adopted
by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as a person under the age of 18 years. Adolescents
on the other hand, are those people between 10 and 19 years of age. Adolescence is a period of life
with specific health and developmental needs and rights1. It is also a time to develop knowledge
and skills, learn to manage emotions and relationships, and acquire attributes and abilities that will
be important for enjoying the adolescent years and assuming adult roles