THE CHALLENGE OF CHILD RIGHTS ISSUE

By Olumide T. Agunbiade

15-year-old Hannah who lives in Akoka area of Lagos State, Nigeria did not grow up like every other child. She has been a maid since she was nine, has cane scars all over her body and had been abandoned by her parents since she was five.

Paul, 10, happens to see his parents only on Sundays even though they live under the same roof. His parent leaves for work very early in the morning before he wakes up and returns when he is asleep. Also, Empress and her brother, John was born with rare form of dwarfism. Their parents abandoned them in an institution for children with disabilities because people were always staring and laughing at them.

Many children with good start in life which encompasses adequate nutrition, health care, hygienic environment and proper upbringing may not understand the pathetic stories of Peter, Empress, Hannah and Paul like those that are suffering from similar or worse disabilities or have been subjected to any form of abuse and neglect as a child.

For years, Psychiatrists, have known that children who are abused or neglected run a high risk of developing mental problems later in life. From anxiety, depression to substance abuse and suicide.

The connection is not surprising, but it raises a crucial scientific question: Does the abuse cause biological changes that may increase the risk for these problems?

Over the past decade or so, researchers at McGill University in Montreal, led by Michael Meaney, have shown that affectionate mothering alters the expression of genes in animals, allowing them to dampen their Physiological response to stress.

Now, for the first time, they have direct evidence that the same system is at work in humans. In a study of people who committed suicide published in 2009 in the journal ‘Nature Neuroscience,’ researchers in Montreal reported that people who were abused or neglected as children showed genetic alteration that likely made them more biologically sensitive to stress.

The findings help clarify the biology behind the wounds of a difficult childhood and hint at what constitutes resilience in those able to shake off the wounds.

The importance of Child Rights and development has been underscored by many parents, the government and the international community. This can be attested to by the clarion calls to create awareness on the needs for Child Rights issues to be recognized as a self standing set of constitution in the mainstreaming process, rather than be a substitute under wider efforts to mainstream overall human rights.

Every child has the right to a good start in life which encompasses adequate nutrition, health care, hygienic environment, participation and protection. The protection rights give a child a right to equality, privacy, education, development and protection against sexual abuse and exploitation.

On the issue of participation, a child has the right to share in the issue of making decisions which affects his life and the life of the community which he or she is part of. Same way, a child has the right to develop through freedom of thought, conscience and religion, the right to play and arise under the administration of juvenile justice.

In this regard, the Child Right Act was promulgated in 2003 among other things incorporates all the rights and responsibilities of a child and specifies the duties and obligations of government, parents, organization and other authorities to the child.

For most parents, a greater part of their waking hours is devoted to work. Some work to live while others live to work. As a parent, which situation will make you more nervous—knowing that your children run a high risk of developing mental problem due to neglect or that people die at or because of their work?

As a matter of fact, both activities involve a measure of danger and both require a maximum level of responsibility. For parents who do not know, a child is a person under the age of 18 year and children are the future of any nation. Therefore, they need to be nurtured and assisted to develop into responsible and productive adults, who will take over the running of the affairs of the society later.

However, as children, they are physically, mentally and emotionally immature and, therefore, require special safeguards and care. This includes appropriate protection, both before and after birth, in order to enable them develop a full and balanced personality, within the family environment and an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding, in conditions of freedom, dignity and security. Such requirements make the child quite unique to the point that the normal rights guaranteed to adults are not specific enough to cater for these needs of children. Hence the need for Child’s Rights Law.

In Lagos State, the Child’s Rights Law which came into force on 28^th May, 2007, is a law which incorporates all the rights and responsibilities of children, and consolidates all laws which provide for the protection and care of children in the State into one single legislation.

The Law recognizes the rights of children, restores their confidence and self-esteem and improves their status. It will also enable children, including children with disabilities, to enjoy their rights fully, as it provides special measures for their care and protection. The Law also demands that in all actions concerning the child, his or her best interest, welfare and well-being must be of paramount consideration.

Under the law, parents, guardians or others responsible for the upbringing of the child must provide care, maintenance, proper upbringing, education, guidance, discipline and socialization. These are required for equipping the child, to enable him or her secure his or her assimilation, appreciation and observance of his or her responsibilities.

The responsibilities of children under the law is to respect their parents, elders and superiors at all times, and assist them in case of need, work towards the cohesion of their families and communities, contribute to the moral well being of the society, as well as social and national solidarity and respect the ideals of democracy, freedom, equality, humanness, honesty and justice for all persons.

Hence, the government has the duty to protect and provide good things for children in need in the country, help families to take good care of them, provide a policy framework that will ensure the rights of the child and provide medical and health care. Besides, all sectors of the society, including government and the people, will benefit from the production of well rounded and self-confident future leaders.