Child Rights are Human Rights

Jesus loved children and spent time with them and there by taught us that children are innocent, trusting and full of hope. Their childhood should be happy and loving. Their lives should mature gradually, as they gain new experiences. But for many children, the reality of childhood is altogether different. Right through history, children have been abused and exploited. They suffer from hunger and homelessness; work in harmful conditions, high infant mortality, and deficient health care and limited opportunities for basic education. A child need not live such a life. Childhood can and must be preserved. Children have the right to survive, develop, be protected and participate in decisions that impact their lives.

With this concern to restore dignity of children who are marginalized, exploited and abused the Church of North India organized a Trainer’s Training Programme on ‘Child Rights as Human Rights’ at the CNI Centre for Human Potential Development, Nagpur from 9th to 11th December 2007.  A group of 30 delegates from different Dioceses of CNI working in the areas of child development and education came to learn and get equipped with perspectives and approaches to child rights as human rights.

Rev. S. Paranjyoti, Director of CNI Social Service Institute delivered the keynote address and challenged the delegates to relate the destitute and abandoned children with Jesus who loved children the most and set an example of safeguarding their rights of proper childhood.  The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Vinita Eusibius, Member, Ministry with Children, CNI and Mr. Sudipta Singh, Director Programmes, CNI.  Rt. Rev. Naresh Ambala and Rev. S. Paranjyoti led the Bible studies reflecting lives of Jesus and his childhood in relation to present context of child rights.  The programme will be followed up in the Dioceses as planned during the workshop to address the issues of child rights locally.  Through this workshop strengthening of existing network and advocacy was emphasized.