Order from us for quality, customized work in due time of your choice.
Rights cannot be overemphasized, as it is a privilege enjoyed by each and every citizen in the country. A right is a legal requirement and civil liberty which everyone naturally must have irrespective of the gender, religion, culture, tribe, race, disability, status or citizenship of the individual. Rights are constitutional and must be adhered to by the citizens and the government of the country.
Everyone is entitled to enjoy his or her right and with the constitution in place which duly outlines the rights of citizens from citizens to the adults and the aged, it would, therefore, be unlawful and inappropriate if such rights are not acknowledged.
Rights can only be void or restrained when a citizen does not adhere to the laws stipulated in the constitution whereby, he or she has to be reprimanded.
Focusing on child rights, therefore, would require also stating who a child is. The definitions of a child will be discussed in subsequent pages by different individuals and bodies. However, for the purpose of an introduction, a simple definition would be needed.
Based on age, a child is a person who falls between the ages of 0(from birth to a year)- 17 years. Everyone has a view on who a child is on different bases. In fact, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross contrast themselves in the definition of a child.
Child Rights, continue to be an issue of universal investigation as these rights are often violated and it is essential to imprint these rights in the minds of citizens to avoid their violation. Child Rights, from the definitions of a right and a child, can therefore be said to be those privileges enjoyed and accredited to persons between the ages of 0 to 17 years which is legal requirement.
Children cover about 27% of the world population and it is a necessity to recognize their rights. As children are still growing and developing, they are especially vulnerable and could be severely and permanently affected by the infringements of their rights ((UNICEF), United Nations Chidren’s Fund; (ICJ), International Commission of Jurists, 2015).
Over the years, cases have risen concerning the violation of child rights both by parents and fellow citizens straight from exploitation to moral and material neglect, torture or inhuman treatment, slavery or servitude to performance of forced compulsory labor; the list is definitely endless and some of these violations will be treated. Hence, it would be safe to say that there is a need to address some legal backings or provisions safeguarding these rights to protect the children and avoid further violations or infringements.
As stated in the introduction, different bodies have definitions of a child which differ in their own way.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is a person below the age of eighteen years except in the law applicable to the child, the age of majority is attained earlier. Also, the Labour Act defines a child as a person under the age of twelve years and a young person under the age of fourteen years. The Children and Young Persons Act, defined a child as a person under the age of fourteen years and a young person to mean a person who has attained the age of fourteen years and is under the age of seventeen years. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child defined a child as every human being below the age of eighteen years .
The International Committee of the Red Cross defines a child as an unaccompanied minor below 15 years of age and not being accompanied by an adult.
From the definitions above, one can not really define the specifically who a child is and this has caused different misconception to arise over time both in the day-to-day activities of citizens and in legal activities concerning children. However, the acceptable definition applicable for legal proceedings is that of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
Rights in this context, are those that belong to humans; Human rights are those rights that belong to every individual- men or women, girl or boy, infant or elder- simply because she or he is a human being. They embody the basic standards without which people cannot realize their inherent human dignity. Human Rights are universal, therefore, no has to earn or deserve them. Rights are inalienable, one cannot lose their rights unless he or she ceases to be a human being. Human Rights are both abstract and practical as they hold up the inspiring vision of a free, just, and peaceful world and set minimum standards for both individuals and institutions should treat people. They also empower people to take action to demand and defend their rights and the rights of others.
The United Nations being an international organization is committed to maintaining peace, security and to promote human rights; and one of the ways this is done is by international human rights agreements also known as treaties.
The United Nations came up with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948 chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt. At that time, the world was very different place. Years of war had left the better part of two continents in disarray. A geopolitical reordering saw an Iron Curtain fall across a continent and a Cold War rise across the globe. And the world was waking up to the unconscionable horrors of the Holocaust. From the ruins of the Second World War came a call to enshrine fundamental human rights. Facilitating this moment of global introspection was a Philosophers Committee under the direction of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Committee enlisted leading thinkers from Mahatma Gandhi to Aldous Huxley to contribute their insights about a proposed Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The work of the Philosophers Committee was then passed to the UN Human Rights Commission.
Human rights have in one way or another brought about peace in the world today as it has helped in promoting good governance in some parts of the world. Individuals across globe benefit from human rights treaties and can be called right holders.
As stated above, everyone has human rights, and children as humans enjoy some of the international rights in the human rights treaties and can be classified as rights holders.
However, child rights infringement has become a matter of both national and international concern. Different programs have been put in place to ensure that these vices are curbed. The field of human rights relative to childrens rights, is more developed.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has also deemed it worthy to stipulate laws that would safeguard children from violations of their rights, one of which is:
The state shall direct its policy towards ensuring that children
Order from us for quality, customized work in due time of your choice.