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The Rights of a Child
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The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 20th November, 1989. The preamble of the Convention reaffirms the fact that children, because of their vulnerability, need special care and protection and places special emphasis on the primary caring and protective responsibilities of the family.
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, having ratified the Convention, is obligated under Article 19 to ensure the protection of children from all forms of maltreatment by parents or caretakers. The Bahamas is also obligated to establish appropriate social programmes for the prevention of abuse and the treatment of victims, and under Article 34, to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse, prostitution and pornography.
The Convention guarantees children the following Rights:
Article 1
Everyone under 18 years of age has all the rights in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 44.
Article 2
Regardless of colour, nationality, race, religion, language, disabilities, rich or poor background all children have rights.
Article 3
Whenever an adult has anything to do with you, you should be treated in the best way possible.
Article 6
Everyone should recognize that you have a right to live.
Article 7
You have a right to a name, your parents’ names, and the date of birth to be written down when you are born. You have a right to a nationality and the care of parents.
Article 9
You have a right to live with your parents, unless they are hurting you or are not taking care of you. In that case, you will be removed from their care for your own good. Even if your parents decide to live apart, you will have to live with one or the other of them, but you have the right to contact both parents easily.
Article 10
If you are living in a separate country from your parents, you have a right to get back together and live in the same place.
Article 11
You should not be kidnapped, and if you do, the government should try their best to get you back.
Article 12
Whenever adults make a decision that will affect you in any way, you have the right to give your opinion, and you have a right to be taken seriously.
Article 13
You have the right to find out things and say what you think through speaking, writing, and marking etc., except when it breaks the rights of others.
Article 14
You have the right to think what you like and be whatever religion you want to be. Parents should help you learn what is right and what is wrong.
Article 15
You have a right to meet, make friends and make clubs with other people unless it breaks the rights of others.
Article 16
You have the right to a private life, such as a diary, and other people are not allowed to see it.
Article 17
You have a right to collect information from radios, newspapers, television, books, etc., from all around the world. Adults should make sure that you get and understand all of the information.
Article 18
You have a right to be raised by both of your parents, and they should do what’s best for you.
Article 19
You should not be hurt in any way. Adults should make sure that you are protected from abuse, violence and neglect. Even your parents have no right to hurt you.
Article 20
If you do not have any parents or it is not safe for you to live with your parents, you have a right to special protection and help.
Article 21
If you have to be adopted, adults should make sure that everything is arranged in the best way for you.
Article 22
If you are a refugee, you have a right to special protection and help.
Article 23
If you are disabled either mentally or physically, you have a right to special education and care to help you grow up in the same way that other children do.
Article 24
You have a right to good health, meaning that you have a right to have professional medical care and medicines when you are sick. Adults should make sure that you do not get sick in the first place by feeding and taking good care of you.
Article 27
You have the right to a good enough standard of living, meaning that parents have the responsibility to provide food, clothes, and a place to live, etc. If your parents can not afford this then the government should help.
Article 28
You have a right to education. Primary education must be free and you must go to primary school. You should also be able to go to secondary school.
Article 29
The purpose of education is to develop your personality, talents, and mental and physical abilities to the fullest. Education should also prepare you to live responsibly and peacefully, in a free society, understanding the rights of others, and respecting the environment.
Article 30
If you come from a minority group, you have a right to enjoy your culture, practice your own religion and use your own language.
Article 32
You have the right to be protected from working in places or conditions that are likely to damage your health or get in the way of your education. If somebody is making money out of your work, you have a right to be paid fairly.
Article 33
You have a right to be protected from illegal drugs and from the business of making and selling drugs.
Article 34
You have the right to be protected from sexual abuse. This means that nobody can do anything to a your body that you don’t want them to do, such as touching, taking pictures, or saying things that you don’t want to say.
Article 35
No one is allowed to kidnap or sell you.
Article 37
Even if you do something that is wrong, no one is allowed to punish you in a way that hurts or humiliates you. You should never be put in prison, except it is a last resort, and when that happens, you have a right to special care and regular visits with your family.
Article 38
You have a right to protection in times of war. If you are under fifteen you should never be in an army or take part in battle.
Article 39
If you have been hurt or neglected in any way, for instance in a war, you have the right to special care and treatment.
Article 40
You have the right to defend yourself if you have been accused of committing a crime. The police, lawyers and judges should treat you with respect and ensure that you understand what is going on.
Article 42
All adults and children should know about this Convention. You have a right to learn your rights and adults should learn about them too.
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