Summary

We have learned about the history of children's rights, specific rights stipulated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, social issues involving children in Japan and their countermeasures, and the voices of those who support children.

The rights of the child came to be recognized in the wake of two world wars and the efforts and sacrifices of many people, resulting in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The principle of the “best interests of the child,” which developed in this stream and is incorporated in the Convention, has come to be taken into account in many places, including contemporary policy decisions concerning children and in courts of justice. Since the establishment of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, three Optional Protocols have been adopted to strengthen the guarantee of rights, and efforts have been made both in Japan and abroad to actually guarantee the rights and principles set out in the Convention.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child regards children as “subjects of rights” and stipulates the prohibition of discrimination against children, the principle of “the best interests of the child,” which puts the interests of the child first, the right to life, survival, and development of the child, and the right to express their views.

While the Convention provides for the protection of these rights, there are many social issues related to children even in Japan. In order to solve such issues as “child poverty,” “education gap,” “young carers,” and “child abuse,” it is important for each of us, as members of society, to recognize the issues and build a social movement to solve them, in addition to solving the systemic problems.

Many people are working to solve these issues. Each of them is working from their own personal experiences and thoughts, as well as from a common passion “for the sake of children.” Supporting these people will also help to resolve the issues involving children. Learning about children's rights, besides creating a social movement as mentioned above, is necessary to consider who to support when providing aid to such groups and initiatives. If you have the motivation to support a group working for children, you need to consider what the group is doing and how its activities are helping children when deciding who to support.

No children, No future. Let's continue to be concerned about children's rights and the issues related to them so that when we become adults, we can build a society where all children can smile.