Table 4.1. Timeline of increasing...

Table 4.1.

Timeline of increasing awareness and respect for the rights of a child in Europe.

1946

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are created

1948

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is created. Included in article 25 is a statement that makes children’s rights equal whether a child is born to married or unmarried parents

Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

1948

Declaration of the Rights of the Child (United Nations, 2015) supplemented the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Two points were added as the consequence of the experiences of the Second World War:

The child must be protected beyond and above all considerations of race, nationality or creed.
The child must be cared for with due respect for the family as an entity.
The child must be given the means requisite for its normal development, materially, morally and spiritually.
The child that is hungry must be fed, the child that is sick must be nursed, the child that is mentally or physically handicapped must be helped, the maladjusted child must be re-educated, the orphan and the waif must be sheltered and succoured.
The child must be the first to receive relief in time of distress.
The child must enjoy the full benefits provided by social welfare and social security schemes, must receive a training which will enable it at the right time to earn a livelihood and must be protected against every form of exploitation.
The child must be brought up in the consciousness that its talents must be devoted to the services of its fellow men.

Child Rights International Network (2018)

1950

European Convention on Human Rights, which in Art 5, states that ‘Spouses shall enjoy equality of rights and responsibilities of a private law character between them, and in their relations with their children’ (Council of Europe, 1950)

1959

The Declaration of the Rights of the Child is produced by the United Nations. This document stresses the importance of child health and in particular the role of the Agents of the Child in the process of care

Principle 4. The child shall enjoy the benefits of social security. He shall be entitled to grow and develop in health; to this end, special care and protection shall be provided both to him and to his mother, including adequate pre-natal and post-natal care. The child shall have the right to adequate nutrition, housing, recreation and medical services.
Principle 5. The child who is physically, mentally or socially handicapped shall be given the special treatment, education and care required by his particular condition.
Principle 6 […]. He shall, wherever possible, grow up in the care and under the responsibility of his parents, and, in any case, in an atmosphere of affection and of moral and material security; a child of tender years shall not, save in exceptional circumstances, be separated from his mother. Society and the public authorities shall have the duty to extend particular care to children without a family and to those without adequate means of support. […]
Principle 8. The child shall, in all circumstances, be among the first to receive protection and relief.

(UNICEF, 2003)

1961

European Social Charter (Council of Europe). This charter gave recognition to the care of the mother and child: the Right to social protection for mother and child and the Right of children and young persons to protection (Council of Europe, 1961)

1966

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This covenant contained:

Art. 23. Protection of the family
Art. 24. Protection of the rights of the child

(United Nations, 1976)

1976

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Art. 10.1. Family as the natural and fundamental group unit of society, […] is responsible for the care and education of dependent children […].
Art. 10.3. Special measures of protection and assistance should be taken on behalf of all children and young persons without any discrimination for reasons of parentage or other conditions. […] Their employment in work harmful to their morals or health or dangerous to life or likely to hamper their normal development should be punishable by law.

(United Nations Human Rights: Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR), 1976).

1989

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Art. 3.

States Parties undertake to ensure the child such protection and care as is necessary for his or her well-being, taking into account the rights and duties of his or her parents, legal guardians, or other individuals legally responsible for him or her, […]
States Parties shall ensure that the institutions, services and facilities responsible for the care or protection of children shall conform with the standards established by competent authorities, particularly in the areas of safety, health, in the number and suitability of their staff, as well as competent supervision

Art. 6.

States Parties recognise that every child has the inherent right to life.

Art. 24

States Parties recognise the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such healthcare services.

(United Nations, 1989)

1946	The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are created
1948	The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is created. Included in article 25 is a statement that makes children’s rights equal whether a child is born to married or unmarried parents Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
1948	Declaration of the Rights of the Child (United Nations, 2015) supplemented the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Two points were added as the consequence of the experiences of the Second World War: The child must be protected beyond and above all considerations of race, nationality or creed. The child must be cared for with due respect for the family as an entity. The child must be given the means requisite for its normal development, materially, morally and spiritually. The child that is hungry must be fed, the child that is sick must be nursed, the child that is mentally or physically handicapped must be helped, the maladjusted child must be re-educated, the orphan and the waif must be sheltered and succoured. The child must be the first to receive relief in time of distress. The child must enjoy the full benefits provided by social welfare and social security schemes, must receive a training which will enable it at the right time to earn a livelihood and must be protected against every form of exploitation. The child must be brought up in the consciousness that its talents must be devoted to the services of its fellow men. Child Rights International Network (2018)
1950	European Convention on Human Rights, which in Art 5, states that ‘Spouses shall enjoy equality of rights and responsibilities of a private law character between them, and in their relations with their children’ (Council of Europe, 1950)
1959	The Declaration of the Rights of the Child is produced by the United Nations. This document stresses the importance of child health and in particular the role of the Agents of the Child in the process of care Principle 4. The child shall enjoy the benefits of social security. He shall be entitled to grow and develop in health; to this end, special care and protection shall be provided both to him and to his mother, including adequate pre-natal and post-natal care. The child shall have the right to adequate nutrition, housing, recreation and medical services. Principle 5. The child who is physically, mentally or socially handicapped shall be given the special treatment, education and care required by his particular condition. Principle 6 […]. He shall, wherever possible, grow up in the care and under the responsibility of his parents, and, in any case, in an atmosphere of affection and of moral and material security; a child of tender years shall not, save in exceptional circumstances, be separated from his mother. Society and the public authorities shall have the duty to extend particular care to children without a family and to those without adequate means of support. […] Principle 8. The child shall, in all circumstances, be among the first to receive protection and relief. (UNICEF, 2003)
1961	European Social Charter (Council of Europe). This charter gave recognition to the care of the mother and child: the Right to social protection for mother and child and the Right of children and young persons to protection (Council of Europe, 1961)
1966	International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This covenant contained: Art. 23. Protection of the family Art. 24. Protection of the rights of the child (United Nations, 1976)
1976	International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Art. 10.1. Family as the natural and fundamental group unit of society, […] is responsible for the care and education of dependent children […]. Art. 10.3. Special measures of protection and assistance should be taken on behalf of all children and young persons without any discrimination for reasons of parentage or other conditions. […] Their employment in work harmful to their morals or health or dangerous to life or likely to hamper their normal development should be punishable by law. (United Nations Human Rights: Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR), 1976).
1989	UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
	Art. 3. States Parties undertake to ensure the child such protection and care as is necessary for his or her well-being, taking into account the rights and duties of his or her parents, legal guardians, or other individuals legally responsible for him or her, […] States Parties shall ensure that the institutions, services and facilities responsible for the care or protection of children shall conform with the standards established by competent authorities, particularly in the areas of safety, health, in the number and suitability of their staff, as well as competent supervision Art. 6. States Parties recognise that every child has the inherent right to life. Art. 24 States Parties recognise the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such healthcare services. (United Nations, 1989)

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