Child Rights and Duties

Child Rights

A child is any human being below the age of eighteen years, and unless under the law applicable to the child. Child rights are necessary for every child. It does not matter whether a child is rich or poor, has parents, or an orphan. If he/she is strong or weak, sick or healthy, all have the same rights.

Children are small. Children are dependent on their elders. The future of every child depends on the care, facilities, and opportunities they get during their childhood. Therefore, if children do not get what they need, they cannot grow up to become worthy citizens of the country. In order to grow up properly, some basic needs are to be fulfilled as their rights.

All the children have the following rights:

• Right to food.
• Right to clothing.
• Right to the shelter.
• Right to education.
• Right to entertainment.
• Right to good health and nutrition.
• Right to name and country.

On the other hand, children should be dutiful and obedient to seniors and other dignified persons of the family and community. Children should always learn the good qualities and life skills needed for a better life. Children are the future of the nation.

Duties of children

While children have rights, they also have certain duties to perform. Some of their duties are:

• Respect their parents, teachers, elders, and love youngsters.
• Pay attention to personal hygiene.
• Help people in need.
• Sharing things with others.
• Use polite language.
• Study, play, eat and sleep at the proper time.

Efforts for child rights

The children’s rights movement promotes legal protection for children, from those of adults. International legal instruments include protection for children across the globe. Rights of the child declared that children need safeguards and separate protections should begin even before birth.

Various organizations such as UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, UNDP, etc. are active in protecting children from various socio-economic hazards. To protect and develop the life of the children, UNO had issued the declaration of rights of a child in 1959 A.D.

Children’s rights are human rights for children. The 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child is a treaty that recognizes specific rights for children.

• Right to life, survival, and development.
• Respect the view of the child.
• Non-discrimination between children.
• Promote education for all.
• Help children survive and thrive.
• Selt identity with name and nationality.
• Protection against all forms of exploitation.

Many organizations play an important role to help ensure that governments support, protect, and listen to children. It provides a framework for governments to analyze, and report on, conditions for children in their countries. Hundreds of children are living miserable life with even no basic services of education, health, and nutrition. Hundreds of them die of communicable diseases. Many children are deprived of even basic education.

Many homeless and parentless children are found in the streets. They need more care and protection from the elders. The future of every child is based on the care, services, facilities, and conducive environment provided to them. Children are the future of the nation. Proper care and affection are needed for the better life of the children. These necessary environments and provisions are managed by the government of the concerning the state. The government has to provide essential needs such as nutrition, clothing, shelter, health, education, and so on.

There are many other agencies that are working for the protection of child rights. These organizations can be approached for help. For example, Nepal Children’s Organization helps the poor and orphans by providing food, shelter, education, and health facilities. UNICEF is playing an important role in spreading awareness about child rights. Similarly, ILO is working to abolish child labor.