Ensure child rights: NGO asks political parties

Child Rights and You (CRY), a non-governmental organisation, Wednesday unveiled a campaign to ensure that all political parties give top priority to children in their election manifestos.

The campaign centres around 10 suggestions, some of which include harmonising the age definition of all child-related legislations, ensuring the implementation of Integrated Child Development Scheme, reducing child mortality and declaring access to quality primary healthcare as a fundamental right.

"When we went through the manifestos of all political parties, we found that children's issues figured in them, but they were not given primary importance," Vijaylakshmi Arora, director policy and advocacy CRY, said at a press conference here.

She said CRY would begin a campaign for child rights across the nation with a series of events to advocate the cause of child rights becoming an intrinsic aspect of the manifestos of political parties.

The campaign firmly believes that India's children, who account for one third of the population, deserve the collective demonstration of our commitment towards child rights.

It also calls for action to express zero tolerance towards violation of child rights so that every child can be assured of a happy, healthy and creative childhood.

"That can happen only if children are recognised as rights holders and people in power remain committed towards providing care, protection, essential services and opportunities to each and every child," Arora said.

"The key element of the campaign is that we will engage in a dialogue with all political parties. We are going to harmonise as many signatures as possible which will be given to the president," Soha Moitra, another CRY official said.