Children and human rights

Universally, children, the would be citizens of tomorrow are disadvantaged in one significant respect. That they are defence less, both mentally and physically. The nature, perhaps, has ordained so. The far reaching changes due to scientific, tech nological and economical advancements have greatly impacted the life styles, social needs and specifically social values. Born and brought up under conflicting conditions, the status of chil dren, particularly the orphaned, lone, uncared, weaker are open for exploitation and they fall easy victims to several crimes perpetrate against them. Inno cence, lack of experience, exposure, improper care/guidance are some of the contibuting factors for their vulnerability and external influences. Crimes against children involving violence, physical and those mental such as child abuse, forced labour and child prostitution are becom ing matters of serious concern nationally as well as internationally.

The struggle for social justice and economic development, both within and between nations, must continue just as the poor themselves will continue to strug gle, as they have always done, to meet most of their own needs by their own efforts. Today's advance in knowledge and technology could therefore augment fu ture prospects a surely as they could diminish present suffering. And the argu ment that making today's advances widely available is dealing only with symptoms is an argument as destructive to the future as it is insensitive to the present.