Fundamental Rights in the Context of Child Protection
Several rights have been mentioned in the Constitution regarding the protection of Child welfare while safeguarding the child’s rights by providing it with a special status. The Constitution has several sets of articles to safeguard the rights of children which are based on the principles of the United Nations. Following are a set of articles which govern the context of Child Protection and Welfare:
- Article 24: Article 24 regards the protection of children that all those till the age of 14 or under are prohibited from being employed in hazardous sites of work, dangerous industries, sites for mining etc. It prohibits child labour and bonded labour, that is, forced to work without any payment.
- Article 39: Article 39 states the rights of children to prevent them from exploitation. It has a set of rules mentioned to prohibit forceful work from children, thus providing them with an opportunity to receive education until they become mature enough to work. Children cannot be forced to work for those occupations they think are harmful for them and they must be protected from child labour.
- Article 45: Article 45 defines the right to education for children. It clearly states that all those 14 or less are entitled to receive mandatory free and accessible education. This is listed in the Constitution and thus the children can’t be employed until and unless they receive a minimum of education until 14 years of age which is free and compulsory for all.
Exploitation of Children – Fundamental Rights
The fundamental law which is directly related to the exploitation of children falls under Article 24. It is extremely important to protect children from exploitation by making them aware of their fundamental rights. As even according to the United Nations, exploitation of children at a young age, or forcing them to work affects physical and mental health and has lifelong consequences. It disrupts childhood and takes away the fundamental right to live free and secure in the nation.
This article covers the basic fundamental rights related to children and their exploitation in the work culture. Rights such as the Mines Act, Child Labour Act, and Bonded Labour Act are all made to prevent Child exploitation, child labour and forced action on under-aged children.
Table of Content
- Fundamental Rights in the Context of Child Protection
- Constitutional Provisions Addressing Child Exploitation
- Laws & Regulations for Child Protection
- Landmark Judgements Related to Child Exploitation
- Conclusion – Which Provision Of Fundamental Rights Is Directly Related To The Exploitation Of Children?