Comment: Challenges remain for child rights in the Maldives
20 Nov 2010, 10:36 AM
Bertrand Mendis
November 20 marks the 21st anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC is a landmark Convention formulated in 1989, founded upon the collective realisation, understanding and agreement among nations of the world that childhood is entitled to special care and assistance.
The CRC underpins the international agreement articulated in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 1924 that the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth. The CRC is the most ratified international treaty, having been signed by all countries of the world, bar two, representing a major milestone in the efforts to achieve a world fit for children.
The Maldives ratified the CRC in 1991, being amongst the earliest signatories to the Convention. Accession to the CRC has achieved substantial benefits for the children of the Maldives. The Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Law 9/91), for example, is derived directly from the provisions stipulated in the CRC, providing a legal basis for the protection of children in the Maldives.
The anniversary of the CRC provides an excellent opportunity to take stock of the achievements Maldives has made in the realisation of the rights of children to survival, development, protection and participation as well as to examine opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
Become a member
Get full access to our archive and personalise your experience.
Already a member?
Discussion
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
No comments yet. Be the first to join the conversation!
Join the Conversation
Sign in to share your thoughts under an alias and take part in the discussion. Independent journalism thrives on open, respectful debate — your voice matters.
