Derecho De Los Niños

Children’s Rights: Did you know…?
How many of us believe that all children have a right to participate in decisions that concern them? How many of us realise that children may not be on the streets if their right to housing, their right to a family or their right to freedom from abuse were respected? How many of us realise that when children live in a violent environment, it is a violation oftheir right to be protected? The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child spells out the basic human rights that all children should have. A Child’s Rights consist primarily of: • the right to survival; • the right to develop to the fullest; • the right to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; • the right to participate fully in family, cultural and social life.Since its adoption by the UN in 1989, after more than 60 years of advocacy, the Convention on the Rights of the Child has been ratified quicker and by more states than any other human rights instrument. Malta signed the treaty in January 1990 and ratified it in September 1990. Its basic premise is that children, defined as all human beings below the age of 18 years, are born with fundamental freedomsand the inherent rights of all human beings. The Convention is a comprehensive instrument which sets out rights that define universal norms for the status of children. It enunciates children’s fundamental human rights and freedoms and takes into account their need for special assistance and protection due to their natural vulnerabilities. It is the only international human rights treaty toinclude civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Upon ratification, States commit themselves to respecting all these rights. It is the full responsibility of these states to ensure that the Convention is implemented to recognise inherent dignity and equal rights to all children and to celebrate freedom, justice and peace in the world. This Convention does not distinguish between race,colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, disability, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. It is determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. A safe family environment is paramount for the full and harmonious development of a child’s personality. Children must be brought up in an atmosphere shrouded in peace, love,dignity, happiness, freedom, equality and understanding. By reason of physical and mental immaturity, children need special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, from the womb. However, is this always the case or are children’s rights often being breached?

Violation of Children’s Rights. There is no way to thoroughly enumerate the various ways in which children around theworld are exploited and maltreated. The global concern of child abuse is a horror story too often untold. Children’s basic human rights to life, to protection, to freedom of expression and thought, to privacy, to good quality care, and to education are unfortunately sometimes violated by the adult world. We hear of children being beaten up, being burnt or bruised, others being sexually exploited,others are hungry and neglected by those who are responsible for their safety and well-being. These abuses persist because children have few mechanisms for reporting abuse and other human rights violations. They may be reluctant to speak out for fear of negative consequences, and possibly, because they are children, their complaints are often not taken seriously. The best interest of the child mustbe of primary consideration in all actions concerning the child, whether by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, so as to ensure to the maximum extent possible the proper development of the child. The National Agency During 1999, the Government successfully enhanced the capabilities of its central agency APPOGG,...