Ask a Teacher

* Children's Rights.***

A child is any human being below the age of 18 years, unless under the law, majority is attained earlier. Additionally, rights are what they deserve and what they should have in their life. Types of rights.

Rights include civil, cultural, economic, social and political rights. They can be categorized into three groups: Provision – Children have the right to live and grow in an adequate standard of living, home health care, services, to play, a balanced diet, education and access to schooling. Primary and secondary schooling should be free. Protection – This is the right to be protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination including the right for safe children's environments and a constructive child rearing behaviour. Children have to be protected from child labour which is hazardous to the child's health and it can prevent him/her from going to school. All work is prohibited for children under 12. No child can be tortured or other cruel treatment. Parenting: Children should be supplied with benefits provided by the relationships and upbringing by their parents. If things go wrong, the government must interfere to protect the child from parental abuse and neglect. Participation – Children have the right to participate in communities. This includes children's involvement in libraries and community programs and allow children to be decision-makers. 

In the history of human rights, the rights of children are the most ratified. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) defines Child Rights as the minimum entitlements and freedoms that should be afforded to every citizen below the age of 18 regardless of race, national origin, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, origin, wealth, birth status, disability, or other characteristics.

These rights encompass freedom of children and their civil rights, family environment, necessary healthcare and welfare, education, leisure and cultural activities and special protection measures. The UNCRC outlines the fundamental human rights that should be afforded to children in four broad classifications that suitably cover all civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of every child:

Right to Survival:

• Right to be born

• Right to minimum standards of food, shelter and clothing

• Right to live with dignity

• Right to health care, to safe drinking water, nutritious food, a clean and   safe environment, and information to help them stay healthy

Right to Protection:

• Right to be protected from all sorts of violence

• Right to be protected from neglect

• Right to be protected from physical and sexual abuse

• Right to be protected from dangerous drugs

Right to Participation: 

• Right to freedom of opinion

• Right to freedom of expression

• Right to freedom of association 

• Right to information

• Right to participate in any decision making that involves him/her directly   or indirectly

Right to Development: 

• Right to education

• Right to learn 

• Right to relax and play

• Right to all forms of development – emotional, mental and physical

The Right to Education

The father of modern education—John Amos Comenius proposed – “all persons should be educated, so we could have peace in the world”. Visionaries of the world understood that peace meant guaranteeing every person certain rights that are conditional for humanity—education being one of the most important.