Children and Family Breakdown - The Tearfund International ...
Children and Family Breakdown - The Tearfund International ...
Children and Family Breakdown - The Tearfund International ...
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UN CONVENTION ON<br />
THE RIGHTS OF THE<br />
CHILD (CRC)<br />
A MATTER FOR<br />
INTERPRETATION<br />
CHILDREN AT RISK GUIDELINES<br />
<strong>The</strong> relevant Articles are summarised as follows (for full relevant texts see page 31)<br />
Article 3: <strong>The</strong> State is to provide adequate care when parents or others fail to do so.<br />
Article 5: <strong>The</strong> State’s duty is to respect the rights <strong>and</strong> responsibilities of parents <strong>and</strong> the wider family<br />
to provide guidance appropriate to the child’s evolving capacities.<br />
Article 9: <strong>The</strong> child has a right to live with his/her parents unless this is deemed incompatible with<br />
his/her best interests.<br />
Article 18: Both parents have joint primary responsibility for bringing up their children, <strong>and</strong> the State<br />
should support them in this task.<br />
Article 19: <strong>The</strong> State has an obligation to protect children from all forms of maltreatment perpetrated<br />
by parents or others responsible for their care, <strong>and</strong> to undertake preventive <strong>and</strong> treatment<br />
programmes in this regard.<br />
Article 20: <strong>The</strong> State has an obligation to provide special protection for children deprived of their<br />
family environment.<br />
7.3 <strong>The</strong> barriers to advocacy are understood <strong>and</strong> are addressed.<br />
■ Working for children’s rights will inevitably create waves of discontent amongst<br />
those whose power or control may be affected. Responses will vary depending on<br />
the socio-political context.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are those who believe that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is wrong. Some<br />
Christian organisations such as the <strong>Family</strong> Education Trust22 believe that children’s rights actually<br />
disempower parents where they are given priority over parents’ rights. Certain articles have been<br />
interpreted by concerned Christian groups as undermining parental control <strong>and</strong> permitting greater<br />
State intervention into family life. Whilst there is evidence of moves in these areas, these theories<br />
put forward may misrepresent the case for children’s rights. Nevertheless, the danger does exist that<br />
there are those who re-interpret <strong>and</strong> manipulate the laws to achieve their own agenda.<br />
A close reading of these articles, <strong>and</strong> the CRC as a whole, reveals a great deal of scope for interpretation.<br />
How it is implemented depends on the outworking of State legislation at national level. This should be<br />
informed by inputs from civil society of whom the Church is a key member. Christian groups should<br />
be encouraged to engage with the debate on how the CRC should be interpreted <strong>and</strong> used. In this<br />
way, areas of concern can be addressed <strong>and</strong> the convention allowed to fulfil its potential to benefit<br />
the lives of children.<br />
22 <strong>Family</strong> Education Trust, 322 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 7NS, UK have produced a booklet called <strong>The</strong> Fight for the<br />
<strong>Family</strong> which outlines their viewpoint. ISBN 0 906229 14 6.<br />
VOLUME 1: CHILDREN AND FAMILY BREAKDOWN<br />
28