“Rights
for children?” The concept that children have rights, and that they can be
active participants who contribute to society, are ideas that most adults and
organisations working for children have not seriously considered.
The
paradigm shift from needs and welfare-based programmes to a rights-based
approach will bring about a radical transformation in our perception of
children's issues and highlight the urgent need for sensitive intervention. A
CHETNA study to assess awareness and understand perception of select
stakeholders confirmed that very few people in general, and a negligible number
of parents and children were aware about child rights. About 90 per cent of
parents, 40 per cent of teachers and 97 per cent of children are not aware that
children have rights.
Proactive action by various stakeholders such as parents, teachers, adults,
schools, community, civil society organisations, governments and children
themselves is possible only if there is basic knowledge and understanding. We
hope this new set of material will fill a small part of this information gap.
CHETNA
has been working in the area of Child Rights for more than two decades now. They
have conducted various
training programmes to make various stakeholders aware about children's rights.
Organising capacity building training programmes, developing innovative
approaches through field based invertions and developing and disseminating
need-based resource materials are the key strategies used by CHETNA to make
various stakeholders aware about child rights.
The
learning and insight gathered by CHETNA through deliberations with several
professionals and civil society organisations on how to create a better
awareness about issues concerning child rights and encourage a child rights'
perspective in programmes for children is the context for the creation of these
three new publications on child rights.
A World Without Tears,
Reader for Children on the
Rights of the Child
This
attractively produced story, written for children in 11-13 years age group,
shares the dream of three children to create a Land of Smiles where there are no
fears and no cause for tears.
The
story will enable children to understand what a right is, know what their rights
are as children, develop a sense of concern
and sensitivity towards children who are denied their rights, and encourage them
to initiate action in their communities to spread awareness about children's
rights. It gives them a vision of a world without tears, a world where all
children are cared for and protected, have equal opportunity to grow and develop
and participate actively to create a just, fair and harmonious society.
The
story is illustrated with very sensitive and inspiring drawings created by
children to create a Land of Smiles. This story is a must read for all children.
'Girl Child First'
Set of Posters to address
Girl Child Neglect
This set
of 18 posters focus on the alarming discrimination and neglect, gross and subtle
that a girl child faces every day of her life. Through hard-hitting statistics
and an appeal to the sense of fairness in each of us, the posters aim to
sensitise a cross-section of stakeholders – parents, adults, community leaders,
teachers, doctors, lawyers and other professionals, NGO/CBO functionaries and
policy and decision makers about the need to right this wrong.
The
posters cover neglect and discrimination across the girl child's life-cycle from
infancy to adolescence and adulthood. They reflect on issues of survival, health
and nutrition, education and development, abuse, violence and protection and
positive self-esteem, participation and empowerment.
The
publications are complementary and can be used as a comprehensive package to
address various stakeholders or used individually to reach out to specific
groups or focus on specific issues.
My Rights, My
Responsibilities
Learning to Teach Child
Rights
This
Seven-module Training Manual supported by a Recourse Book aims to build the
capacity of trainers or facilitators to organise participatory, activity-based
training on child rights. The training can be used to sensitise teachers, NGO
and CBO functionaries.
The
manual will enable participants to:
