What are the consequences of ignoring/not ignoring children’s rights
Renatta Oswandi
Education
Ignoring children’s rights can lead to very negative consequences. For example, if children are denied access to education, the country's economic situation would not improve. According to UNESCO, 61 million primary school-age children were not enrolled in school in 2010, and of these children, 47% were never expected to enter school. These children are unable to go to school because they have to work in order to help sustain their family. It has been proven that uneducated workers are three times more likely to be unemployed than college-educated workers. The jobs offered to them are low in pay as they don’t have the basic skills to do more complex jobs. With less people contributing to the economy by earning a stable income, the still developing countries will struggle to function.
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Exploitation
Another consequence of denied rights is exploitation. Estimates suggest that as many as 300,000 child soldiers are active in conflicts around the world. International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that there are some 8.4 million children in slavery or practices similar to slavery. These children are denied the right to protection and development. They are treated as objects and have no, or little, chance to redeem themselves. Children are meant to have fun growing up and mature gradually as they gain new experiences. Yet these children are robbed of their childhood and are forced to participate in acts that they don't have a clear understanding of, or would do willingly if they had a choice.
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AbuseChild abuse and neglect involves a significant risk of causing physical or long lasting emotional harm to a child or young person. In one study, 80% of 21-year-olds who reported childhood abuse met the criteria for at least one psychological disorder. The main types of child abuse and neglect are physical abuse, emotional mistreatment, neglect and sexual abuse. Physical abuse involves physical harm or injury to the child. It can be done deliberately to harm the child, or as a way to discipline them. Sexual abuse doesn’t always mean contact with the child. Sexual abuse can also mean exposing the child to sexual situation or material. While physical abuse might be the most visible, other types of abuse, such as emotional abuse and neglect, also leave deep, long lasting scars. Emotional abuse is usually more harmful than physical abuse as it can undermine how we think about ourselves. Wounds heal overtime, but the damage caused to someone emotionally, can linger for years. The result of this is that most abused children will grow up following the footsteps of their parents. They will unconsciously repeat what they experienced as children, to their own kids. Thus the cycle continues as a result of these children’s denied rights.
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