CHILD RIGHTS &

RIGHT TO EDUCATION

Here is a story that about a girl who does not get her rights…

Hi! I am Asma from Mumbai, India, and this is my story…

• I am 8 years old• I live with my parents, 2 sisters, 1 brother and

my grandma- that’s 7 of us!• We live altogether in a small hut next to the

railway station • My father sweeps the streets and my

mother cleans people’s homes.

I have never been to school

This is my story…

• There’s a court near my home- and everyday I see the lady lawyers looking all busy and important

• They must have gone to school for sure! Even to college I think!

Sometimes I dream I’ll be a lawyer too and make sure no one comes to destroy my home.

This is my story… • My parents work hard to earn a living, but they

still can’t afford to send us all to school even though they really want to send me to school

• So I stay home to take care of the house and my baby sisters.

• My younger brother goes to school…but he might have to stop soon.

• My uncle has got him a job at a tea stall.. My brother doesn’t want to leave school.

This is my story…

I have big dreams for myself and my family and i know that many people all over the world want to

help us get our rights.

Even though Asma’s life is very

different, you still have a lot in common with her…

YOU are all childrenYOU were all born equalYOU have rights – as children

CAN YOU NOW TELL ME WHAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE?

Is Asma’s story similar to yours?

Asma is just one example…

• Half of India’s children do not get sufficient food to eat.

• Half of India’s children who are old enough to, do not go to school.

• There are millions of children in India who are forced to go to work instead of school.

In India there are many children who do not get their rights

Would you like to make a difference to the lives of children who need our

support…Then take the CRY pledge-

I am a child.

I believe all children should be able to enjoy the rights promised to us by our leaders- the rights to survival, protection, development and participation.

I pledge to do whatever I can, in my own way, to fight so that all children can have a great childhood.

And because many other children like me will also do

the same, WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Striving together…

“What I can do, I must.”

Definition of the Child

Etymologically, the term “child” comes from the Latin infans which means “the one who does not speak”.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989 defines more precisely the term “child”.

“[…] a child is any human being below the age of eighteen years, unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier”.

The idea, through this definition and all the text concerning child welfare, is that the child is a human being with rights and dignity.

CHILD DEFINITION According to Child age

1. Criminal law 1860 IPC sec82 7-12 years 2. Juvenile justice Act Boy – 16 Girls – 18 3. Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929 Male –21 Female – 18 4. Labour Laws and Appetent act 1951 >15 years 5. The census of India > 14 years 6. Social Scientists include 15 – 19 years

Magnitude Birth rate 41.9% - 1960-1961 29.5% - 1990-1991

The census of India estimated that by 1991 there would be

7.8 million less girls than boys and 78% of children reside in rural areas.

YES, CHILDREN HAVE RIGHTS!!

Many groups of children and adults from all over

the world discussed what children’s concerns are.

Then the United Nations came up with a list of

rights

For all children all over the world in 1989.

In each pair choose the one that is a RIGHT-

Food OR Ice Creams

To be protected from ever getting a cold OR to be protected from ever getting kidnapped

Personal computer OR Education

To share my opinions OR to do whatever I want

How did you know?Because as a child, you instinctively know that RIGHTS are…

Universal- everyone has the same rights- all need food, education etc

Intrinsic- rights belong to you, they are inside of you, no matter what circumstances you are in- whether you live in an apartment or a house or in a hut, you have the same rights.

Essential- no one can/should have to do without rights. Our rights help us live full lives.

• Interrelated to each other- e.g. right to food is related to education. The more educated you are the better your chances of earning enough to always have plenty of food.

Linked to responsibilities- adults are responsible for giving children our rights- our parents,

neighbors, relatives, society, government, etc

So, what are your rights?

SURVIVAL

PROTECTION

DEVELOPMENT

PARTICIPATION

All children have the right to SURVIVAL

To live

Get good health care

Get good food regularly

• Have a name- your own identity

• To have a nationality - belong to a country

that will care for you

All children have the right to PROTECTION

To have a family that will protect you

To be safe from every harm- physical or mental

• To have your own privacy

All children have the right to DEVELOPMENT

to education

• rest and leisure

recreation

All children have the right to PARTICIPATION

To express yourself freely

To choose your own set of beliefs

To know about things related to your life

• To be a member of associations

To enjoy your own culture

CHILD RIGHTS1. Rights to Survival

That includes the right to life, the highest attainable standardof health, nutrition and adequate standard of living. It also includes the right to name and nationally.

2. Rights to protection

That includes freedom all forms of exploitation, abuses, in human or degrading treatment and negligence including the right to special protection in situation of emergency and armed conflicts.

3. Rights to Development

That consists of the rights to education, support for early childhood, development and care, social security and right to leisure, recreation and cultural activities.

4. Rights to Participation

That includes respect for the views of the child, freedom of expression, access to appropriate information and freedom of thought, consensus and religion.s

CHILD RIGHTS [contd…]

Child Rights in India:

India is a party to the UN declaration on the Rights of the Child 1959. Accordingly, it adopted a National Policy on Children in 1974. The policy reaffirmed the constitutional provisions for adequate services to children, both before and after birth and through the period of growth to ensure their full physical, mental and social development.

Child Rights: The Convention on the Rights of the Child defines basic rights of children

covering multiple needs and issues. India endorsed it on December 11, 1992.

The right to Education The right to Expression The right to Information The right to Nutrition The right to Development The right to Recreation The right to Name & Nationality The right to Survival:

CHILD RIGHTS & YOU!!!

And so am I…..

And so is anyone below the age of 18

You could be… *A girl or a boy * A small baby or a

teen* Rich or poor * A Hindu or a Muslim,

etc* Born to a businessman or a

famous actor * Black skinned, or white or brown

all over * Needing special things - like a

wheelchair, or hearing aids * In any situation that’s completely different from everyone else

IT DOESN’T MATTER!

If you are below 18you are a child, as important as

any other child

Thank You