Family and Child Welfare

Family and Child Welfare 3 (3+0)

Lesson 8 & 9 : The Rights of the Child

Adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Children

Convention on Children's Rights came into force on 2nd September 1990. With its entry into force, the Convention becomes binding international law for those states that are party to it. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is unique. One of the main doctrines of the Convention is that the 'Child' is not alone; it considers the basic role of the parents and family for the welfare, care and protection of the children, also the need for special protection of children who are separated or are without families. It considers the role of community and State when required and the crucial contribution that can be made by international organizations and international co-operation Moreover, the Convention provides a framework, within which the child can make the difficult transition from infancy to adulthood.

The document which has been signed provides ten (10) point programme to protect the rights of child, to improve their lives and plans of action at national and international level by the year 2000. The national Plan of course will depend on that particular country social and special need and requirements.

The document considers and urgently calls for action in

1. Infant and maternal mortality to be reduced.
2. Completion of primary education covering 80 per cent primary school age children.
3. Improve protection of children.
4. Reduction of server and moderate malnutrition of children under age of five (5).
5. Universal access to safe drinking water.
6. Sanitary means of disposal of excreta.
7. Improving status of women which will lead to better child care".
8. Within a decade it envisages:
1. Global eradication of poliomyelitis.
2. High level immunization of children under one year old with a coverage of 90 per cent children.
3. Reduction by 95 per cent of measles cases.
4. Reduce 50 per cent of deaths in children under 5 years old due to diarrhea.
5. Reduce 1/3 deaths due to respiratory infections in children under 5 years old.
9. Universal access to safe drinking water, sanitary conditions, reduction in pollution, protection of environment and increase in food production.
10. The Convention also seeks to balance the rights of child with the rights and duties of parents and others who have responsibility or child survival, development and protection.

The Government of India ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 12 November 1992. Accordingly the Government took various initiatives to review the National and State legislations and bring it in line with the provisions of the Convention, develop appropriate monitoring procedures to assess progress in implementing the Con­vention, involve all relevant Government / Ministries, departments. International agencies, Non-governmental organizations and the legal profession in the implementation and reporting process to publicize the Convention and seek public inputs for the frank and transparent reporting. Improvement in the daily life of children and their welfare will depend largely on the implementation of the programmes.