The convention on The Rights of The Child (CRC) is an important document in that it represents a shift from the articulation of the needs of children to the characterization of children as persons with rights. The convention represents the commitment of signatory countries to ensure that these rights are enshrined and guaranteed in their respective societies. The convention also asserts that public policies as well as norms of social behaviour must be motivated by what is in the best interest of the child.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child reflects the aspirations of the international community for the well-being of children and sets out universal legal standards for the protection of children against neglect, abuse, exploitation, as well as guaranteeing them their basic human rights, including survival, development and full participation in social, cultural, educational and other endeavours necessary for their individual growth and well being
These universal legal standards, principles and provisions of the convention are enunciated in Articles 1 to 41.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in September 1989.
Guyana’s commitment for its children
The Government of Guyana ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Rights of the Child in January 1991 and established a National Commission on March 1, 1993. This National Commission for the Survival Protection and Development of Children was appointed to prepare a Guyana National Plan of Action for Children to the year 2000
The Commission agreed 6 programme areas that constitute the starting point for addressing the major problems facing children in Guyana. These are:-
1. The Family
2. Health and Nutrition
3. Water and Sanitation
4. Basic Education and Literacy
5. Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances
6. Legal and Constitutional Provisions for Children
The Guyana National Plan of Action is articulated in two stages, the first from its approval through 1997, the second from 1997 to the completion of the plan in the year 2000.
The two- cycle phasing of the plan is informed by the overall strategy of keeping issues of children on the political and social agenda to the maximum extent possible.
In November 1998 a progress report prepared by the Government of Guyana in conjunction with UNICEF was presented to the Fourth Ministerial meeting on Children and Social Policy held in Lima, Peru. This report details the initiatives undertaken by the Government of Guyana and highlights the achievement of goals set at the World Summit for Children in 1990, as well as goals ratified by governments in 1994 in the NARINO Accord which established mid-decade goals for children.
“Article 1
For the purpose of the present Convention, a child means every human being below the age of 18 years unless, under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.
“Article 2
“1. States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child or his or her parents or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
“2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions or beliefs of the child’s parents, legal guardians or family members.”
