Global recognition of Child rights

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Child rights are less than a 100 years old

Children have rights, and today all countries recognise them. Firstly, all children have a right to education. All governments provide for free and publicly funded school systems. Secondly, children have a right to health. Most states, international agencies, and local charities focus on maternal and child health. This approach has improved survival of mothers, newborns and infants. Thirdly, we all recognise it as a priority to protect children in all calamities. These concepts of protection, provision and participation are ingrained in modern welfare states. However, 100 years ago, there was only a little talk of child rights. There were no children’s days either.

Pre 1900s: A period without child rights

Till 19th century, children above six years of age, were routinely employed in factories and mines. In 1802, England raised minimum age of employment to nine, and thereafter in 1833 mandated workplace education in first four years of employment. This was a beginning of a child-rights movement. Industrialisation had pushed orphaned children to forced labour. Therefore, in 1854 some US philanthropists initiated orphan train movement, relocating such children from cities to families in the mid-west farm-lands. This was probably a first attempt at an organised large-scale rehabilitation. Later, in 1881, French brought a concept of free state sponsored education for all children upto 14 years of age. Hence, this became a first child right.

It was a time when societies questioned themselves. Children belong to families, but should they also contribute to families income ? If disease, war, disaster or migration deprives children of their families, who should bring them up ? At what age should children fend for themselves ? We were to answer many of these questions in the coming years.

Early 20th Century: Introducing concept of child rights

Many countries started their own child protection services. Initially it was a charity, but soon this became part of welfare. As monarchies and empires were torn apart in Europe, states adopted welfare agenda.

Frequent wars in Europe, also prompted Eglantyne Jebb and Dorothy Buxton, to set up “Save the children fund” in UK in 1919. Aim of this organisation to improve child health, education and economic opportunities. Under patronage of ICRC (Red-Cross), Jebb and Buxton also helped form International save the children union, with Geneva as its head quarter. In 1924, these organisations successfully lobbied League of Nations to adopt first Declarations of the rights of the child.

In 1924, we had a first international declaration of child-rights. This Geneva declaration reaffirmed five basic tenets of child-survival. These were 1) Provide children with means for normal development; 2) A hungry child be fed, sick must be nursed, delinquent must be reclaimed, and the orphan be sheltered; 3)Child must be the first to receive relief in times of distress; 4) Child must be protected against every form of exploitation; 5) The child must be brought up so as to develop talents to serve mankind. League of Nations had no means to implement these tenets.

UNICEF is born from the ashes of the Second World-War

Second World War, brought even more destruction and displacement. As Allied nations recaptured more territory, they established a relief and rehabilitation agency (named UNRRA) in 1943. Meanwhile, a Polish physician Ludwik Rajchman suggested to have an International health service. Second World War concluded in 1945, and rehabilitation of children in the war zones was a priority. On 11th December 1946, UNICEF became the first UN agency, to provide assistance to affected children in Europe. Some startup funds came from UNRRA.

In 1948, UN adopted Universal declaration of human rights. Later in 1950, mandate of UNICEF was also extended to all continents. It took another nine years for UN General assembly to re-adopt modified child rights. On 20th November 1959 international body adopted “Declaration of rights of a child“. This time, UNICEF was a key agency for its implementation. Child right movement had truly become global.

1950s: Different countries establish their Children’s day

We need to reaffirm our vows, and how about fixing an anniversary. In 1954, when India proposed a universal children’s day to UN General Assembly. At this time some countries already had their own. For instance, Turkey observed children’s day on 23rd April (fixed after a child welfare conference in 1929), and Russia on 1st June (fixed after a Women’s congress in 1949). Independent India started a tradition of public functions, beginning 14tn November 1947, Birthday of our first prime minister – Pt Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1957 this day was officially proclaimed as Children’s day in India. Since then, India has issued children’s day stamps every year. Find a more complete listing here

Like India, other countries selected their own children’s day. Those allied to Soviet Union chose 1st June. Many Others adapted their own versions as per local needs. It was much late in 1959, United Nations suggested 20th November as World Children’s day. This is the day, UN proclaimed “rights of the child”. Today, only a handful of countries have their children’s day on 20th November. Most have different days. Please see a compilation here.

1960s-1970s: UNICEF expands its wings and earns a Nobel

In 1961 UNICEF included education as its mandate, and in 1965, UNICEF was awarded Nobel Peace Prize. Seven years later in 1971, world celebrated 25 years of existence of UNICEF. By this time, the agency had expanded beyond war-zones, to urban slums and was already engaged in primary health-care.

1979: International year of the child (IYC)

In 1979, we had completed 20 years of declaration of rights of the child. This year was declared as international year of the child (IYC). Many countries issued postage stamps on this occasion. These stamps depicted happy and healthy children. IYC logo was a child, protected by a parent. Two olive branches (of international cooperation) protect this duo. The following gallery shows IYC stamps by continents.

As is evident from postage stamps, all member nations were free to set their agenda for IYC. Thus, each country had its own theme, and set of issues for the year. Aim of IYC was dual. On one hand idea was to celebrate international attention child rights. More importantly, there was a need to further strengthen the provisions. IYC prompted numerous national initiatives to strengthen the protection of children’s rights, including improved legislation against child abuse. Another purpose was to highlight unfinished agenda of improving child health around the world. Hence, it is not surprising that some important child health initiatives were launched in the next few years.

1980s: A renewed focus on child-health and primary care

In 1980s, UNICEF renewed its focus on four aspects of child-health. Growth monitoring, Oral rehydration (see a previous blog) , Breast feeding (see a previous blog) and immunisation (see a previous blog). We collectively know these initiatives as GOBI.

Global declaration of child rights required an update. In 1989, this declaration was expanded to 54 articles of Conventions of rights of the child. Today this is a most extensive treaty on childhood.

Next year, UN issued guidelines for prevention of juvenile delinquency, and in 2000 prohibited children from participation in any armed conflicts.

More recently, participation of children in international fora has increased. In 2002, first child delegates addressed UN general assembly. Malala Yusufzai and Greta Thunberg are vocal and visible child ambassadors of change. UNICEF has also diversified. It is engaged in fighting epidemics and natural disasters. Agency played an active role in rehabilitation of Haiti earthquake victims (2010), and fight against Ebola (2015), Zika (2016) and for COVID vaccination (2020).

A misconstrued technology: Female foeticide

In many patriarchal societies, gender discrimination towards girl child is common. A worst form of gender discrimination is towards yet-to-be-born girls. Advent of ultrasound technology and its expansion in 1980s, made it possible to identify gender in a foetus. This, coupled with unregulated medical termination of pregnancy (MTP), adversely affected gender ratio in our country.

In India, child-sex ratio in 1990 was 945 girls for every 1000 boys. This declined further to 915 girls per 1000 boys in 2010. In 1994, India banned pre-natal sex-determination and enacted PPNDT act. It became unlawful to declare gender after an ultrasound examination. This act was made more stringent in 2003 and 2011. Various other initiatives have been launched in India to save the girl child.

Recent girl child initiatives

Gender discrimination is even more widespread. This discrimination leads to low education levels, reduced immunisation coverage, and reduced health seeking for the girl child. Government of India launched “Beti-Bachao, Beti-Parhao” initiative in 2015. This has an English language acronym of BBBP, and means valuing the girl child and empowering her with education. Indeed healthy children, irrespective of gender are a reflection of health of society we live in.

A yet unfinished agenda

In 2014, Nobel peace prize was shared by Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yusufzai. Both continue to work to eliminate child labor, and ensure girl-education is some of the most difficult parts of the world. Children born in disadvantaged regions or families remain vulnerable. Since, they do not choose their political, social, physical or economic environment, it is our responsibility to ensure fulfilment of their rights. Child rights is all about a change in perception of communities and families, so that dreams of all children can be nurtured.

Today in 2023, about 100million children are homeless and live on streets. About 60 million do not go to school, and 13 million infants do not get any vaccination. We still have a way to go.

“There is no greater violence, than to destroy dreams of our children.”

– Kailash Satyarthi