The Convention on the Rights of the Child
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted
by the General Assembly of the United nations on 20 November 1989. The Convention is
guided by the principle of a "first call for children" – a principle that
the essential needs of the children should be given the highest priority in the allocation
of resources at all times. It obligates the state to get a fair and equitable deal in
society and advocates concrete public action by all individuals and agencies –
government and non-government, local, national, regional and international – to
create an environment in which all children are able to live securely and realize their
full potential in life.
The Convention draws attention to four sets of civil,
political, social economic and cultural rights of every child. These include:
THE RIGHT TO SURVIVAL: This
includes the Right to Life, the highest attainable standard of health, nutrition and
adequate standard of living.
THE RIGHT TO PROTECTION: Includes
freedom from all forms of exploitation, abuse and inhuman or degrading treatment and
neglect, including the right to special protection of emergency and armed conflicts.
THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT:
Includes the right to education, support to early childhood development and care,
social security and the right to leisure and recreation and cultural activities.
THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATION:
Includes respect for the views of the child, freedom of expression, access to
appropriate information, and freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
India’s Commitment to
children
In December 1992, the country committed itself by ratifying the Convention on the Rights
of the Child.
The Constitution of India
Article 39 of the Directive Principles of State Policy
directs that the state shall direct in its policy
……the health and strength of children are not abused and that citizens are
not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength;
……that children are given opportunities and facilitiesto develop in a healthy
manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity.
Article 24: No child below the age of 14 shall be
employed to work in any factory or mine or engage in any hazardous employment. |
