Children are vulnerable, tender and small, therefore are largely dependent on adults. The future of every child to a very large extent depends on the care, facilities and opportunities they get during their childhood consequently, if children do not get what they need, they cannot grow up to become the expected worthy citizens of the country. In order to grow up properly, some basic needs are to be fulfilled as their right.
Rights of Children include the Right to food, Right to clothing, Right to Shelter, Right to education, Right to entertainment, Right to good health and proper nourishment and the right to name and country. However, the observance of some of these child rights has often become a challenge especially to most developing countries including Ghana.
This write-up is therefore going to discuss the state of child rights in Ghana, major sources of children’s right abuses, effects of these abuses and recommendations to improve the situation. The write-up will be segmented into the following sub-headings : Meaning of a child, brief History of the rights of children, the exact rights of children, International Legal and institutional Framework for the rights of children, Local Legal and institutional Framework for the Rights of children, Sources of child Rights abuse, Effects of these Abuses, Efforts made by the State so far Regarding Safeguarding the Rights of Children, major challenges to the Protection of Children’s Rights in Ghana, Ways of Dealing with these Abuses against the Rights of Children, a summary and Conclusion.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Meaning of a Child
- What are the rights of Children
- Provision
- Protection
- Participation
- International Legal and Institutional Framework for the Rights of Children
- Local Legal and Institutional Framework for the Rights of Children in Ghana
- Child Rights Abuse in Ghana
- Child Trafficking
- Street children
- Child domestic workers
- Child labour
- Domestic Violence
- Sexual Abuse
- Effects of children's Rights Abuse
- Major Challenges facing the Protection of child Rights in Ghana
- Innovative ways of Dealing with Child Rights Violations
- Summary
Objectives and Key Themes
This write-up aims to discuss the state of child rights in Ghana, exploring the sources of child rights abuses, their effects, and recommending solutions to improve the situation.
- Definition and understanding of child rights in Ghana
- International and local legal frameworks for protecting child rights
- Common forms of child rights abuse in Ghana
- The impact of child rights abuse on individuals and society
- Challenges and opportunities for safeguarding child rights in Ghana
Chapter Summaries
The introduction sets the context by highlighting the importance of protecting children's rights for their development and the future of the country. It outlines the key issues to be addressed in the write-up.
The chapter on the meaning of a child clarifies the legal definition of a child in both international and Ghanaian legal frameworks.
The chapter on children's rights outlines the various rights that children are entitled to, categorized into provision, protection, and participation. These rights encompass areas such as education, healthcare, protection from abuse, and opportunities for involvement in their communities.
The chapter on the international legal and institutional framework discusses the key international conventions and agreements that provide the foundation for child rights protection, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
The chapter on the local legal and institutional framework examines the Ghanaian legal and institutional landscape for protecting child rights, highlighting key legislation such as the Children's Act, 1998, and the Domestic Violence Act, 2007. It also discusses relevant institutions involved in child protection, such as the Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU).
Keywords
Child rights, Ghana, child abuse, child trafficking, street children, child labour, domestic violence, sexual abuse, legal framework, protection, participation, challenges, recommendations.
- Quote paper
- Kwesi Nyarkoh Koomson (Author), 2016, The rights of children in Ghana, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/340676
