Convention on the Right of child

(CRC)
Consists 54 articles
Contains four fundamental principles
1. Survival, development and protection
2. Devotion to the best interest of the child
3. Equality and non discrimination
4. Respect for the view of the child
• The convention on the rights of the child is ratified
by every member state, except USA
• Global standard of child protection (CRC)
Definition of child
CHILD: is a person below the age of 18, unless the
laws of a particular country set the legal age
for adulthood younger. (CRC)
Why the definition of a child matters?
The definition of the age of child affect:
How children are treated if they commit a crime
How children are treated as a victim of a crime
Age of consent and definition of sexual abuse
Age of marriage and definition of child marriage

Eg: The 1994 constitution of Malaw defines child to a

person under the age of 16.
Reasons that the USA has not ratified
the convection on the rights of the
child
1. The United States has never formally recognized
economic, social & cultural rights as a human
right
2. Not all the provisions of the convention are
implemented
3. By acknowledge the power of a child, it threatens
the power and responsibility of the parent.
 3 core principle of human rights
1. Dignity
2. Equality
3. Respect
 HISTORY OF CHILD PROTECTION
1797: THOMAS SPENCE PUBLISHES THE RIGHTS
OF INFANTS
1874-1875: THE NEW YORK SOCIETY FOR THE
PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN IS
FOUNDED
1909: YOUTH ACTIVISTS IN THE UNITED STATES
 HISTORY OF CHILD PROTECTION
APRIL 15, 1919 — MAY 19, 1919 :
EGLANTYNE JEBB FOUNDED SAVE THE CHILDREN
At the beginning of the 20th century, Eglantyne Jebb had
a vision: to achieve and protect the rights of children
worldwide. She was driven by the belief that all children –
whoever they are, wherever they are – have the right to a
healthy, happy, fulfilling life.
 HISTORY OF CHILD PROTECTION
FEBRUARY 23, 1923 — NOVEMBER 26, 1924:
DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
Adopted by the League of Nations General Assembly:
1. The child must be given the means requisite for its normal development, both
materially and spiritually.
2. The child that is hungry must be fed, the child that is sick must be nursed, the
child that is backward must be helped, the delinquent child must be reclaimed, and
the orphan and the waif must be sheltered and succored.
3. The child must be the first to receive relief in times of distress.
4. The child must be put in a position to earn a livelihood, and must be protected
against every form of exploitation.
5. The child must be brought up in the consciousness that its talents must be
devoted to the service of its fellow men.
 HISTORY OF CHILD PROTECTION
DECEMBER 11, 1946 — 1953:
UNICEF IS CREATED
APRIL 30, 1948:
THE AMERICAN DECLARATION OF
THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MAN
DECEMBER 10, 1948:
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS (UDHR)
 HISTORY OF CHILD PROTECTION
1959 — NOVEMBER 20, 1959:
DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
DECEMBER 16, 1966 — JANUARY 3, 1976:
INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC,
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
DECEMBER 16, 1966 — JANUARY 3, 1976:
INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND
POLITICAL RIGHTS
1979: INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD
1989:UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
 Questions
1. What is Non-discrimination?
2. Explain in one sentence what The best interests of the
child means
3. Explain in one sentence what Right to life, survival and
development means
4. Explain in one sentence what Right for children’s views to
be given due weight means
 Answers
• Non-discrimination: The principle of non-discrimination is
addressed in Article 2 of the Convention. It means that the
Convention applies to all children, whatever their race, religion
or abilities; whatever they think or say, whatever type of family
they come from. It doesn’t matter where children live, what
language they speak, what their parents do, whether they are
boys or girls, what their culture is, whether they have a disability
or whether they are rich or poor. No child should be treated
unfairly on any basis
 Answers
The best interests of the child: The best interests of children
principle is addressed in Article 3 of the Convention. It means
that the best interests of a child must be the primary concern in
making decisions that may affect them. All adults should do what
is best for children. When adults make decisions, they should
think about how their decisions will affect children. This
particularly applies to budget, policy and law makers.
 Answers
Right to life, survival and development:(Article 6) Children
have the right to live. Governments should ensure that children
survive and develop healthily. Children must be alive for their
other rights to have meaning. Development is one of the main
goals of many rights in the Convention, for example, one of the
aims of education (article 29) is 'the development of the child's
personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their
fullest potential.'
 Answers
 Right for children’s views to be given due weight:(Article 12): When adults
are making decisions that affect children, children have the right to say what
they think should happen and have their opinions taken into account. This
does not mean that children can now tell their parents what to do. This
Convention encourages adults to listen to the opinions of children and involve
them in decision-making -- not give children authority over adults. Article 12
does not interfere with parents' right and responsibility to express their views
on matters affecting their children. Moreover, the Convention recognizes that
the level of a child’s participation in decisions must be appropriate to the
child's level of maturity. Children's ability to form and express their opinions
develops with age and most adults will naturally give the views of teenagers
greater weight than those of a preschooler, whether in family, legal or
administrative decisions.
 Limits of the CRC and the Optional
Protocols
Article 1 ፡For the purposes of the present Convention, a child means every
human
being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable
to
the child, majority is attained earlier.
Article 38: States Parties shall refrain from recruiting any person who has not
attained the age of fifteen years into their armed forces. In recruiting
among those persons who have attained the age of fifteen years but
who have not attained the age of eighteen years, States Parties shall
endeavor to give priority to those who are oldest.
 The Optional Protocols of CRC
1. The involvement of children in the armed conflict
(OPAC)
2. The sale of children, child prostitution and child
pornography (OPSC)

Adopted May 25, 2000

Entry in to force February 12,2002

Refer the two documents

The Case of Corporal Punishment
Punishing someone using physical force in a way
which is meant to hurt them or make them
uncomfortable.
Can take the form of hitting (‘smacking’ or ‘spanking’)
children, kicking children, shaking them or forcing
them to stay in uncomfortable positions
Any punishment using force is corporal punishment
There are also other forms of punishment which are
not physical, but which are just as cruel – for example,
deliberately making children feel scared or
embarrassed.
Thank
you