Activists and civil society organisations involved in promoting child rights have called for strengthening the laws pertaining to children, with increased focus on the girl child, and urged States to be more proactive on this front.
The inconsistent definition of a child and lack of focus on adolescent girl children were highlighted by speakers at a State-level consultation on the National Child Rights Policy 2013, here on Wednesday. They also explained how a State level policy would strengthen the National policy.
According to the new definition, a child is ‘any person below the age of 18 years.’ But the fundamental right to education is ensured only for those in the age group of 6-14. “Hence, it is important to extend it till 18 years in order to do justice to the child rights policy,” said Dr R Padmini of the Karnataka Child Rights Observatory (KRCO), in her keynote address. In her view, the new policy also had a narrow interpretation on issues pertaining to Early Child Care and Education (ECCE).
The lack of focus on problems relating to the adolescent girl child, which is an alarming issue in today’s life, was also a point that was debated largely. Saraswathi Rangaswamy, chairperson of the State Commission for protection Child Rights, stressed the need to create awareness among parents to protect their children, especially girls, against possible atrocities and abuses.
The convenor of Tamil Nadu Child Rights Observatory (TNCRO), K Shanmugavelayutham, stressed the importance of a National Child Rights Policy and the need for all organisations to contribute and implement these policies into action to make it a law in future. He also suggested a State and regional-level policy and a plan of action for child rights that could help strengthen the National policy.
Though the majority unequivocally voted for the positives in the present policy, including a clear definition of child though not consistent in its usage, emphasis was laid on various aspects like child protection, survival, health and nutrition, education and development and participation of the child in own development.
The speakers also raised concerns over the need for space for scope of improvement in the present policy.