Child Rights- A Foreign Culture?

I have grown into a fine young man because my basic rights were made available for me to access. Furthermore, my Mum and the rest of my family and society ensured I enjoyed it with responsibility. I must state that I have gone through a lot though- corporal punishment at home and in school, not being able to speak my mind and my views left unconsidered at most times. It made me feel sad.

Traditionally, every parent wants the best for their ward, this is indeed the truth, but how that is ensured- the means, is what must be questioned.

Rights simply ensure individuals proper development. If you have a right to do or to have something, you are morally or legally entitled to do it or to have it. Your rights are the things you are entitled to do or have. Basically, there are four pillars of Rights of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; Survival, Protection, Participation and Development. Understanding these may help live in peace with rights in our society and not see it as western influence or foreign culture as people may think.

Survival: is the fact of continuing to live or exist in spite of great danger or difficulty. Every parent yearns to see their ward survive, right from day 1 of their birth, usually post and ante-natal care coupled with parental love makes a child’s survival possible at a tender stage.

Protection: from diseases, harm and other social evils keeps the child safe, still ensuring better living of the child. Note, to protect someone or something means to prevent them from being harmed or damaged.

Participation, if you participate in an activity, you are involved in it with other people. It is the right if every child to be part of making decisions at the home, school and community in which they live in especially issues that directly concern or affect them. Gone are days when children were seen and not heard, when given the chance to express themselves, they listen to the contribution of others.

Now, on Development- When someone or something develops, or when someone develops something, the person or thing grows or changes over a period of time and usually becomes more advanced or complete. Children develop best when Educated, and brought up in morally and socially upright environment- this automatically develops them spiritually.

Interesting- huh? Like a balanced meal, when a child’s life is well balanced with the pillars of rights above they grow stronger, smarter and better for their homes, communities and the nation at large in the near future. May I be quick to add that many children who lack these may become a burden or liabilities to society, Agree?

I believe in partnering and sharing best practices, I see nothing wrong with replicating values to ensure proper development.

Rights are so Right!

UNICEF’s mission is to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided in doing this by the provisions and principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Built on varied legal systems and cultural traditions, the Convention is a universally agreed set of non-negotiable standards and obligations. These basic standards—also called human rights—set minimum entitlements and freedoms that should be respected by governments. They are founded on respect for the dignity and worth of each individual, regardless of race, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, origins, wealth, birth status or ability and therefore apply to every human being everywhere. With these rights comes the obligation on both governments and individuals not to infringe on the parallel rights of others. These standards are both interdependent and indivisible; we cannot ensure some rights without—or at the expense of—other rights.

A legally binding instrument

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. In 1989, world leaders decided that children needed a special convention just for them because people under 18 years old often need special care and protection that adults do not. The leaders also wanted to make sure that the world recognized that children have human rights too.

The Convention sets out these rights in 54 articles and two Optional Protocols. It spells out the basic human rights that children everywhere have: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life. The four core principles of the Convention are non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child. Every right spelled out in the Convention is inherent to the human dignity and harmonious development of every child. The Convention protects children's rights by setting standards in health care; education; and legal, civil and social services.

By agreeing to undertake the obligations of the Convention (by ratifying or acceding to it), national governments have committed themselves to protecting and ensuring children's rights and they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this commitment before the international community. States parties to the Convention are obliged to develop and undertake all actions and policies in the light of the best interests of the child.