Listen to the future: World Children’s Day

World Children’s Day 2024

Listen to the future: World Children’s Day focuses on ‘Stand up for children’s rights.’ Children are the future and they will lead the world with their best knowledge in one day. 

Child is knowledge. If you want to earn knowledge, you will have to love children. If you want to be in heaven, you have to feel compassion and love for children. If you want to rear yourself, you will have to nurture children with love and integrity. So, the decision is yours. Child rights are human rights. They are non-negotiable and universal.

In a recent interview, child rights activist and Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi said, “All the children must enjoy their childhood from cruelty to compassion. I feel like I’m born for that. Today, all the children are with us so that they can go to the other side where the light is, where the freedom is, where the justice is. To make justice to justice, we have to carry all the children of the world in a boat.”

Children are vulnerable and Child abuse in the world has increased over the ages and added new dimensions. So, to stop the violence against children the world has initiated many more laws and regulations.

Timeline of child rights

21 times the initiative has been taken to ensure the stability of child rights. The years are, 1924, 1946, 1948, 1959, 1966, 1968, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2015.

If we analyze the Timeline of child rights, we will see that it burgeoned in 1924.

• 1924

The League of Nations adopted the Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child, drafted by Eglantyne Jebb, founder of the Save the Children Fund.

The Declaration articulates that all people owe children the right to: means for their development; special help in times of need; priority for relief; economic freedom and protection from exploitation; and an upbringing that instils social consciousness and duty.

• 1946

Then in 1946 The United Nations General Assembly establishes the International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, with an emphasis on children throughout the world.

• 1948

In 1948 The United Nations General Assembly passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in which Article 25 entitles mothers and children to ‘special care and assistance’ and ‘social protection’.

• 1959

In 1959 The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which recognized, among other rights, children’s rights to education, play, a supportive environment and health care.

• 1966

In 1966 With the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, United Nations Member States promise to uphold equal rights – including education and protection – for all children.

• 1968

In 1968 The International Conference on Human Rights is convened to evaluate the progress made by countries in the 20 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. An agenda for future work is drafted and national commitments to upholding human rights are bolstered.

• 1973

In 1973 The International Labour Organization adopts Convention 138, which sets 18 as the minimum age for undertaking work that might be hazardous to a person’s health, safety or morals.

• 1974

In 1974 Concerned about the vulnerability of women and children in emergency and conflict situations, the General Assembly called on Member States to observe the Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict. The Declaration prohibits attacks against or imprisonment of civilian women and children and upholds the sanctity of the rights of women and children during armed conflict.

• 1978

In 1978 The Commission on Human Rights put forth a draft of a Convention on the Rights of the Child for consideration by a working group of Member States, agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.

• 1979

In 1979 To mark the twentieth anniversary of the 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child, the United Nations General Assembly declared 1979 as the International Year of the Child, in which UNICEF played a leading role.

• 1985

In 1985 The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice detail the principles of a justice system that promoted the best interests of the child, including education and social services and proportional treatment for child detainees.

Convention on the Rights of the Child

• 1989

In 1989 The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and widely acclaimed as a landmark achievement for human rights, recognizing the roles of children as social, economic, political, civil, and cultural actors. The Convention guarantees and sets minimum standards for protecting the rights of children in all capacities. UNICEF, which helped draft the Convention, is named in the document as a source of expertise.

• 1990

In 1990 The World Summit for Children was held in New York. The Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency outline strategies for preventing criminality and protecting young people at high social risk. 

• 1991

In 1991 Experts from UNICEF, Save the Children, Defence for Children International and other organizations met to discuss data gathered from the reporting process of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The meeting led to the formal establishment of the Child Rights International Network (CRIN) in 1995.

• 1999

In 1999 The International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, calling for the immediate prohibition and elimination of any form of work that is likely to harm the health, safety, or morals of children. UNICEF has been working with the ILO since 1996 to promote the ratification of international labour standards and policies concerning child labour.

• 2000

In 2000 The United Nations General Assembly adopted two Optional Protocols to the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, obligating State Parties to take key actions to prevent children from partaking in hostilities during armed conflict and to end the sale, sexual exploitation, and abuse of children.

• 2002

In2002 At the United Nations Special Session on Children, child delegates address the General Assembly for the first time. The World Fit for Children agenda was adopted outlining specific goals for improving the prospects of children over the next decade. 

• 2006

In 2006 UNICEF co-publishes the Manual for the Measurement of Juvenile Justice Indicators with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The Manual enables governments to assess the condition of their juvenile justice systems and make reforms as necessary.

• 2010

In 2010 The United Nations Secretary-General issued the Status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

• 2011

In 2011  A new Optional Protocol to the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted. Under this Optional Protocol on a communications procedure, the Committee on the Rights of the Child can field complaints of child rights violations and undertake investigations.

• 2015

In 2015 Somalia and South Sudan ratify the Convention. The Convention is the most widely ratified international instrument with 196 States. Only the United States has not ratified to date.

But in too many places today children’s rights are being misunderstood, disregarded or even denied and attacked. sometimes it’s been hacked or going to be hacked by opportunists.

Convention on the Rights of the Child: For every child, every right.

In 1989 something incredible happened, world leaders came together and made a historic commitment to the world’s children by adopting an international legal framework – the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

Against the backdrop of a changing world order The world leaders made a promise to every child to protect and fulfil their rights. 

The Convention explains who children are, all their rights, and the responsibilities of governments. All the rights are connected, they are all equally important and they cannot be taken away from children.

All most 54 section or subsection was taken under the UN resoloution they are below.

1. Definition of a child

(A child is any person under the age of 18.)

2. No discrimination

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. No child should be treated unfairly for any reason.

3. Best interests of the child

When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children. All   adults should do what is best for children. Governments should make sure children are protected and looked after by their parents, or by other people when this is needed. Governments should make sure that people and places responsible for looking after children are doing a good job.

4. Making rights real

Governments must do all they can to make sure that every child in their countries can enjoy all the rights in this Convention.

5. Family guidance as children develop

Governments should let families and communities guide their children so that, as they grow up, they learn to use their rights in the best way. The more children grow, the less guidance they will need.

6. Life survival and development

Every child has the right to be alive. Governments must make sure that children survive and develop in the best possible way.

7. Name and nationality

Children must be registered when they are born and given a name which is officially recognized by the government. Children must have a nationality (belong to a country). Whenever possible, children should know their parents and be looked after by them.

8. Identity

Children have the right to their own identity – an official record of who they are which includes their name, nationality and family relations. No one should take this away from them, but if this happens, governments must help children to quickly get their identity back.

9. Keeping families together

Children should not be separated from their parents unless they are not being properly looked after – for example, if a parent hurts or does not take care of a child. Children whose parents don’t live together should stay in contact with both parents unless this might harm the child. 

10. Contact with parents across countries

If a child lives in a different country than their parents, governments must let the child and parents travel so that they can stay in contact and be together.

11. Protection from kidnapping

Governments must stop children being taken out of the country when this is against the law – for example, being kidnapped by someone or held abroad by a parent when the other parent does not agree.

12. Respect for children’s views

Children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues that affect them. Adults should listen and take children seriously.

13. Sharing thoughts freely

Children have the right to share freely with others what they learn, think and feel, by talking, drawing, writing or in any other way unless it harms other people.

14. Freedom of thought and religion

Children can choose their own thoughts, opinions and religion, but this should not stop other people from enjoying their rights. Parents can guide children so that as they grow up, they learn to properly use this right.

15. Setting up or joining groups

Children can join or set up groups or organisations, and they can meet with others, as long as this does not harm other people.

16. Protection of privacy

Every child has the right to privacy. The law must protect children’s privacy, family, home, communications and reputation (or good name) from any attack.

17. Access to information

Children have the right to get information from the Internet, radio, television, newspapers, books and other sources. Adults should make sure the information they are getting is not harmful. Governments should encourage the media to share information from lots of different sources, in languages that all children can understand. 

18. Responsibility of parents

Parents are the main people responsible for bringing up a child. When the child does not have any parents, another adult will have this responsibility and they are called a “guardian”. Parents and guardians should always consider what is best for that child. Governments should help them. Where a child has both parents, both of them should be responsible for bringing up the child.

19. Protection from violence

Governments must protect children from violence, abuse and being neglected by anyone who looks after them.

20. Children without families

Every child who cannot be looked after by their own family has the right to be looked after properly by people who respect the child’s religion, culture, language and other aspects of their life.

21. Children who are adopted

When children are adopted, the most important thing is to do what is best for them. If a child cannot be properly looked after in their own country – for example by living with another family – then they might be adopted in another country.

22. Refugee children

Children who move from their home country to another country as refugees (because it was not safe for them to stay there) should get help and protection and have the same rights as children born in that country.

23. Children with disabilities

Every child with a disability should enjoy the best possible life in society. Governments should remove all obstacles for children with disabilities to become independent and to participate actively in the community.

24. Health, water, food, environment

Children have the right to the best health care possible, clean water to drink, healthy food and a clean and safe environment to live in. All adults and children should have information about how to stay safe and healthy.

25. Review of a child’s placement

Every child who has been placed somewhere away from home – for their care, protection or health – should have their situation checked regularly to see if everything is going well and if this is still the best place for the child to be.

26. Social and economic help

Governments should provide money or other support to help children from poor families.

27. Food, clothing, a safe home

Children have the right to food, clothing and a safe place to live so they can develop in the best possible way. The government should help families and children who cannot afford this.

28. Access to education

Every child has the right to an education. Primary education should be free. Secondary and higher education should be available to every child. Children should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level possible. Discipline in schools should respect children’s rights and never use violence.

29. Aims of education

Children’s education should help them fully develop their personalities, talents and abilities. It should teach them to understand their own rights, and to respect other people’s rights, cultures and differences. It should help them to live peacefully and protect the environment.

30. Minority culture, language and religion

Children have the right to use their own language, culture and religion – even if these are not shared by most people in the country where they live.

31. Rest, play, culture, arts

Every child has the right to rest, relax, play and to take part in cultural and creative activities.

32. Protection from harmful work

Children have the right to be protected from doing work that is dangerous or bad for their education, health or development. If children work, they have the right to be safe and paid fairly.

33. Protection from harmful drugs

Governments must protect children from taking, making, carrying or selling harmful drugs.

34. Protection from sexual abuse

The government should protect children from sexual exploitation (being taken advantage of) and sexual abuse, including by people forcing children to have sex for money, or making sexual pictures or films of them.

35. Prevention of sale and trafficking

Governments must make sure that children are not kidnapped or sold, or taken to other countries or places to be exploited (taken advantage of).

36. Protection from exploitation

Children have the right to be protected from all other kinds of exploitation (being taken advantage of), even if these are not specifically mentioned in this Convention.

37. Children in detention

Children who are accused of breaking the law should not be killed, tortured, treated cruelly, put in prison forever, or put in prison with adults. Prison should always be the last choice and only for the shortest possible time. Children in prison should have legal help and be able to stay in contact with their family.

38. Protection in war

Children have the right to be protected during war. No child under 15 can join the army or take part in war.

39. Recovery and reintegration

Children have the right to get help if they have been hurt, neglected, treated badly or affected by war, so they can get back their health and dignity.

40. Children who break the law

Children accused of breaking the law have the right to legal help and fair treatment. There should be lots of solutions to help these children become good members of their communities. Prison should only be the last choice.

41. Best law for children applies

If the laws of a country protect children’s rights better than this Convention, then those laws should be used.

42. Everyone must know children’s rights

Governments should actively tell children and adults about this Convention so that everyone knows about children’s rights. 

43 to 54. How the Convention works

These articles explain how governments, the United Nations – including the Committee on the Rights of the Child and UNICEF – and other organisations work to make sure all children enjoy all their rights.

Bangladesh ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on August 3, 1990: WHEREAS Bangladesh has become a party to the United Nations. and Bangladesh enact The Children Act 2013: Bangladesh in 2013.

The Children Act 2013 repeals the 1974 Children Act with the aim of bringing the country in line with provisions of international instruments such as the UNCRC, as well as decisions of the Bangladesh Supreme Court. It contains 11 chapters 100 sections and sub-sections.

Contained in this treaty is a profound idea: that children are not just objects who belong to their parents and for whom decisions are made, or adults in training. Rather, they are human beings and individuals with their own rights.

The Convention says childhood is separate from adulthood, and lasts until 18; it is a special, protected time, in which children must be allowed to grow, learn, play, develop and flourish with dignity. The Convention went on to become the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history and has helped transform children’s lives. 

Abdullah Al Hadi.                                                     Poet & Litterature

https://31stbcs.org/world-day-against-child-labour/

https://youtu.be/qBdipBB3raI?si=IP1GFHciW8gPjBS_