Strictly implement laws to protect hapless children: Child rights activist Nina Nayak
Bengaluru: Child rights activist Nina Nayak has called for better enforcement of laws related to child protection and wants Child Rights Commission to increase awareness about children’s rights among the children and the general public. Excerpts from an interview:
Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights is organising an essay and elocution contest on Universal Children’s day on Novemeber 20. Are these contests helpful?
I think it is a good idea to have such competitions to provoke some interest. Also, awareness increases to what kind of violations are happening, and about the protection. At least for such competitions the children and their parents will Google topics on child rights and it might widen their knowledge.
How crucial is child participation when it comes to enforcing child rights?
Children’s participation is highly important and The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) stresses broadly on four types of rights - survival rights, development rights, protection rights and participation rights. Participation rights encompasses children's freedom to express opinions, to have a say in matters affecting their own lives, to join associations and to assemble peacefully. As their capacities develop, children should have more opportunity to participate in the activities of society, in preparation for adulthood. They should come forward and voice their concerns and rights.
What continues to be the biggest drawback?
Sadly, children themselves are not aware about their rights. They don’t know what their entitlements are and hence it is very important to educate them about their rights and make them aware of their role.
How do we overcome this?
By mobilising public interest where the family and children are engaged in the advocacy for their rights. Hence the Child Rights Commission should do such programmes and activities to bring about awareness.
What about children rights in urban settings?
Children living in urban settings have a full range of civil, political, social, cultural and economic rights recognised by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international instruments. These include survival; development to the fullest; protection from abuse, exploitation and discrimination; and participation in family, cultural and social life. Children need to live fulfilling lives and a life of dignity and for urban India, it calls for the larger society, who are privileged, to raise the quality of life of children who are not privileged. We have to engage public by focussing on child rights' issues and encourage them to take up volunteerism.
Are the laws in place?
Yes. There are wonderful laws and policies, but these are not getting translated to the ground.
How do we engage the public?
We should organise events where dialogues and debates about the current relevant issues and systems are discussed and larger society will also claim a space and then interventions can happen.
What is the existing problem in a city like Bengaluru when it comes to child rights?
The quality of education imparted in our schools need to be improved. Differently abled children and those children whose rights have been violated should be provided special attention. Along with stringent watchdog mechanism there should also be speedy response while providing justice to these children.
KSCPCR to organise Essay competition on November 20
Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) is an independent statutory body under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act to protect and promote child rights in the state in consonance with the provisions of Indian constitution and the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child 1989. On the occasion of Universal Children’s Day which falls on November 20, the Commission is organising an essay and elocution competition about the child rights and KSCPCR for the students from class 5th to 10th in state syllabus and pre-university students. For CBSE schools in Karnataka students from class 5th to 12th can participate. Prizes will be given to outstanding performers.
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