LIFE SKILLS & VALUE EDUCATION – CLASS-X – UNIT-7 Child’s Right in India

Child Rights in India

 

Children’s rights are human rights that are accustomed explicitly to the children needs, wants and overall well-being. They take into account their fragility, specificities and age-appropriate requirements. Children’s rights aim to take into account the necessity of the development of a child.

Child rights go beyond just human rights, which exist to ensure fair and proper treatment of children across the world, and promote their well-being.

Further, the rights as described in the Convention have been summarised into the following fundamentals with references to various articles.

1.    The Right to Identity (Article 7 AND 8)

 

• Children are entitled to a name, legally registered with the government, and a nationality (to belong to a country). Further, they must have the right to an identity, in the form of a public record. This ensures national support, as well as access to social services.

2.    The Right to Health (Article 23 AND 24)

 

• Medical care, nutrition, protection from harmful habits (including drugs) and safe working environments are covered under the right to health, and articles 23 and 24 enumerate access to special care and support for children with special needs, as well as quality health care (including drinking water, nutrition, and a safe environment) respectively.

3.    The Right to Education (Article 28)

 

• Right to free primary education is critical for helping children develop discipline, life skills while finding a safe and healthy environment to nurture a child’s physiological development. This includes freedom from violence, abuse or neglect.

4.    The Right to a Family Life (Articles 8, 9, 10, 16, 20, 22 and 40)

 

• If not family members, then children have the right to be looked after by caretakers. Children must live with their parents until it is harmful to them.

• Children who do not have access to a family life, have a right to special care and must be looked after properly, by people who respect their ethnic group, religion, culture and language. Refugee children have a right to special protection and help.

5.    The Right to be Protected from Violence (Article 19 and 34)

 

• Protection from violence extends even to family members, and children must not suffer ill-treatment or sexual or physical violence. This includes use of violence as a means of discipline. This Article takes into view the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

6.    The Right to an Opinion (Article 12 and 13)

 

• All children deserve the right to voice their opinions, free of criticism or contempt. Children have the freedom of expression, as long as they are not harming others with their opinions and knowledge.

7.    The Right to be Protected from Armed Conflict (Articles 38 and 39)

 

• Armed conflict converts innocent children into refugees, prisoner, or participants in armed conflicts. While seeking to rehabilitate children affected by war, the government must also ensure that children are not forced to participate in any armed struggle.

8.    The Right to be Protected from Exploitation (Articles 19, 32, 34, 36 and 39)

 

·       This extends to abuse, negligence and violence by parents, even if it is justified as an instrument of achieving discipline at home. Further, children cannot be made to work in difficult or dangerous conditions. Children can only volunteer to work doing safe chores that do not compromise their health, or access to education or play.

 

• Children also cannot be punished cruelly, even if it is under the ambit of the justice system. Death or life sentences, as well as sentences with adult prisoners, are not permitted.

All children deserve equality, despite their difference. They are entitled to all of these rights, no matter what race, colour, religion, language, ethnicity, gender or abilities define them.

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