Rights of Children in the 21st Century

In the 21st century, it is more important than ever to be aware of the rights of children. There are many laws and regulations in place to protect the rights of children, but not everyone is familiar with them. We will discuss the list of children’s rights and some of the most important rights of children in India. We will also talk about the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, which guarantees free and compulsory education for all Indian children between the ages of 6 and 14. Every child deserves to be protected and have their rights respected, so make sure you know what they are!

What do you mean by the rights of children?

The rights of children can be broadly classified into two categories- fundamental rights and statutory rights.

Fundamental rights are those rights that are enshrined in the Constitution of India and apply to all persons irrespective of their age. Statutory rights, on the other hand, are granted to specific groups of people such as workers or women and vary from country to country.

Right of children to free and compulsory education act 2009

The right of children to free and compulsory education is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution of India under Article 21A. This right entitles all children between the ages of six and fourteen years to free and compulsory education.

In 2009, the Parliament of India passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, which makes the right to education a fundamental right for all children in India. The Act lays down specific provisions for making education compulsory and free for all children, including those belonging to disadvantaged groups.

It also establishes the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) as the nodal agency to monitor and enforce the rights of children enshrined in the act.

The right to education is a fundamental right for all children in India, and the government has made significant strides in making this right a reality for all children. However, there is still much work to be done in order to ensure that every child in India has access to quality education.

Fundamental rights of children

Apart from the rights enshrined in the Constitution, there are a number of other statutes that confer rights on children. The most important Fundamental rights of children are:

• The right to life
• Survival and development
• The right to be free from discrimination
• The right to have a name and nationality
• The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
• The right to freedom of expression
• The right to freedom of association
• The right to privacy
• The right to freedom from arbitrary arrest, detention or exile
• The right to a fair trial and an education

Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 (RTE Act)

All children between the ages of six and fourteen are entitled to a free and obligatory education under this act. The RTE Act has been criticised for a variety of reasons, the most common of which is that it is not being implemented fully. Even if it isn’t fully enforced, the legislation nonetheless offers a framework for children to exercise their right to education.

Care and Protection of Children Act, 2000

Another important statute with respect to the rights of children in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. This act lays down the framework for the care and protection of children who come into contact with the law. It provides for a number of measures such as rehabilitation and reintegration of children into their families, guardianship and custody orders, adoption and foster care.

POCSO Act

The POCSO Act of 2012, as well as the Rules that followed, went into effect on November 14, 2012. The Act is enacted with the goal of protecting children from a variety of sexual offences, such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, and pornography, while also protecting the interests of child at every stage of the judicial process by establishing a child-friendly mechanism for reporting, recording evidence, investigation, and speedy trial of offences through special courts. Any person under the age of 18 is considered a child under this law. It specifies various types of sexual offences, such as non-penetrative and  penetrative assault, as well as pornography and  sexual harassment 

 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

The rights of children are also protected by a number of international treaties such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). India has ratified the CRC and is therefore legally bound to safeguard  and promote the rights enshrined in it. The rights of children are an important topic and one that deserves greater attention. It is hoped that by increasing awareness about these rights, we can work towards ensuring that all children are able to exercise them fully.

UNICEF on rights of children

“The rights of children are enshrined in a number of international conventions and declarations. The most important is the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It has been accepted by almost every country in the world. The Convention sets out a number of rights that must be protected for all children, no matter who they are or where they live. These rights include the right to life, the right to be safe and protected from harm, the right to an education, the right to be healthy and have access to health services, and the right to express themselves freely.

For more information on the rights of children, please go through in detail these topics:

• Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009
• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000
• Convention on the Rights of the Child
• UNICEF

Conclusion

It is important for both parents and students to be aware of the rights that children have in the 21st century. We hope this article has helped to shed some light on these issues and provides you with the information necessary to advocate the rights of children. Children’s rights include the right to associate with both parents, human identity, and the basic needs for physical protection, food, universal state-funded education, health care, equal protection of the civil rights of child’s, and criminal laws appropriate for the child’s age and development, and freedom from discrimination on the basis of the child’s race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability, colour, ethnicity, and race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability, colour. Have additional questions? Leave them in the comments below, and we will do our best to answer them. And finally, don’t forget to share this article with your friends and family, so they can be better informed too!