Rights of Children

Concept

Children’s rights encompass the fundamental protections, freedoms, and entitlements that are specifically designed to ensure the well-being, development, and protection of children. These rights are based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which outlines a comprehensive framework.  Child rights are commonly grouped into four broad categories, encapsulating the fundamental entitlements that safeguard the well-being, development, protection, and active participation of children worldwide.

Children have the entitlement to be safeguarded from harm, abuse, exploitation, and neglect. This includes protection against violence, trafficking, child labor, and harmful practices.

• Right to Development

Children possess the right to proper nurturing, education, healthcare, and an environment conducive to their growth. This encompasses access to quality education, healthcare services, and opportunities for holistic development.

• Right to Survival

Children are entitled to the necessary conditions for survival and well-being, including access to nutrition, healthcare, safe water, sanitation, and shelter essential for their health and life.

• Right to Participation

Children hold the right to express their opinions, have their voices heard, and participate in matters that concern them. This involves respecting their views according to their evolving capacities and ensuring their active involvement in decisions affecting their lives.

Constitution of Pakistan, 1973

The Constitution of Pakistan contains several provisions that indirectly address child rights, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding and protecting the well-being of children:

• Article 11 – Slavery, Forced Labor, and Child Labor Prohibited

This article prohibits slavery, forced labor, and employment of children below the age of fourteen years in any factory, mine, or hazardous employment.

• Article 25-A – Right to Education

The 18th Amendment to the Constitution introduced Article 25-A, guaranteeing the right to education for children aged 5 to 16 years, making it the responsibility of the state to provide free and compulsory education.

• Article 37(e) – Promotion of Social Justice and Welfare

Article 37(e) directs the state to ensure the well-being of children, stating that children should not be employed in any hazardous employment.

Sindh Legal Framework