Child-rights & child development in India - a socio-economic analysis under regional perspective

Every human being below the age of eighteen years is known as ‘child’ according to the universally accepted definition of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The need for special safeguard for the child had been stated in the Geneva Declaration, 1924. It was also proclaimed in that declaration that the child by the reason of his physical and mental immaturity needs this special safeguard including appropriate legal protection. The need to extend particular care to the child as stated in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted by the General Assembly on 20 Nov, 1959. In 1989, the world leaders recognized that Children should have human rights too and for that they need a special convention, i.e., a universally agreed set of non-negotiable standard and obligation. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989) is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights within child rights. The Convention sets out these rights in 54 articles and two Optional Protocols. It spells out those basic human rights that every child should have wherever he may live: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life. The four core principles of the Convention are non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child. Every right spelled out in the Convention is inherent to the human dignity and conducive for harmonious development of every child. By setting standards in health care; education; and legal, civil and social services, it tried to protect the basic Rights of every Child in this world.