Children are one of the most important and vulnerable parts of human society. Every child, regardless of gender, language, ethnicity, religion, nationality, or social and economic status, has human dignity and basic rights. Children’s rights are an important part of human rights, and every child has the right to live and grow in a safe, healthy, and dignified environment.
A child should not be considered without rights simply because of their young age. Human rights principles around the world recognize children as independent human beings and emphasize the need for special care for their life, development, education, health, safety, and proper social life.
The Right to Life and Healthy Development
Every child has the right to life, healthy development, and proper physical, mental, social, and intellectual growth. Families, society, and relevant institutions should provide conditions that allow children to grow in a safe environment and develop their abilities.
Children should receive special support and care during poverty, hunger, illness, lack of family care, and other difficult conditions.
The Right to Education
Education is one of the basic rights of every child. Every child should have a fair and proper opportunity to improve their abilities and build their future.
Children should not be denied education because of their gender, ethnicity, language, social status, disability, or other differences. Education should help develop the child’s personality, abilities, talents, and human dignity.
Protection from Violence and Abuse
Every child has the right to be protected from physical, mental, and sexual violence, neglect, humiliation, exploitation, trafficking, forced labor, and all forms of abuse.
Violence against a child does not only harm the child’s body or mind; it is also a serious violation of the child’s human dignity, future, and basic rights.
The Right to Health
Every child has the right to health services, proper nutrition, clean water, hygiene, and necessary health care.
For healthy development, equal attention should be given to the child’s physical and mental health, and necessary support should be provided in cases of illness or disability.
The Child’s Right to Identity and Family
Every child has the right to have a legal identity and, as far as possible, to receive care and love from their family. The child’s family, identity, and private life should be respected while considering the best interests of the child.
The Child’s Right to Express an Opinion and Participate
A child, according to their age and level of understanding, has the right to express their opinion about matters that affect their life and future.
The child’s opinion should be heard with respect and given proper attention according to the child’s age and mental development.
The Best Interests of the Child
In all decisions that affect a child’s life, future, education, health, and safety, the best interests of the child should be given priority.
Children should not become victims of conflicts between adults, political disagreements, economic problems, or other situations.
Protection from Child Labor and Exploitation
Children should be protected from work and activities that harm their health, education, physical or mental development, or human dignity.
Economic exploitation of children, forced labor, trafficking, and all forms of abuse are against the basic rights of children.
Protection of Children During Wars and Emergencies
During wars, natural disasters, displacement, migration, and other emergencies, children are among the most vulnerable. Therefore, special measures should be taken to protect their lives, health, education, and safety.
Children should not become victims of war, violence, or abuse, and protecting their human dignity and basic rights should be a priority in all situations.
Our Position
The Afghan International Human Rights Organization considers protecting children’s rights an important part of human rights and a foundation of a healthy and fair society. We believe that every child, regardless of any difference, has the right to life, education, health, safety, freedom, love, care, and human dignity.
In our view, children should not become victims of family problems, society, wars, poverty, or other difficult conditions. Children’s physical and mental safety must be taken seriously, and no child should face violence, forced labor, abuse, trafficking, neglect, or any form of exploitation.
The Organization works to raise public awareness about children’s rights, prevent and document violations of children’s rights, and use legal and peaceful ways to support the rights of vulnerable and disadvantaged children.
We also believe that protecting children’s rights is not only the responsibility of families. Families, society, civil society organizations, and relevant institutions all have a shared responsibility to provide children with proper conditions for healthy development, education, safety, and a better future.
Protecting children means protecting the future; because a society that protects the rights, dignity, and future of its children builds the foundation for a fair, peaceful, and developed generation.