Children’s Rights Centre (CRC)-A unit of GOODWILL
Goodwill Social Work Centre has set up a Children’s Rights Centre (CRC) with a prime objective of proclaiming, protecting and defending Children’s rights as affirmed in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). Like in many other countries, the rights of children are still generally low on the agendas in India. It is evident from a study Report (Maheshwar Madan Lal, 1994) that the percentage of children in India who asserted their rights was negligible and a high majority of children were not even aware of their fundamental rights of children due to lack of education. Similarly, amongst adults, 10 percent were aware of the rights of the child while 15 percent gave this subject a thought. Only 7 percent were engaged in facilitating these rights to them. In view of this, the centre has established a Children’s Rights Centre which provides a variety of services to the beneficiaries include School children’s forums, Teachers’ and parents’ associations, farmers’ associations, Co-operatives, women’s groups, self help groups (men and women), rural youth clubs/Associations, Residents’ welfare associations, grassroots level NGOs, political groups and NSS volunteers and Youth groups in schools.
Objectives of CRC :
- To provide a conceptual understanding and awareness of the United Nations Convention on the Rights the Child (I989) for civic action groups.
- To arouse social consciousness among civic action groups on their role-responsibilities in child protection initiatives in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
- To design and develop CRC communication materials in local language and to apply media interventions in education and awareness building programmes.
- To undertake research on child rights issues and concerning the UN Convention on Children’s Rights and develop models for effective implementation on the basis of insights gained by means of research.
- To network with agencies in child rights promotion and protection at the local, national and international levels.
Objectives of CRC :
- Children’s Rights Education and awareness training for civic action groups namely School children’s forums, Teachers’ and parents’ associations, farmers’ associations, Co-operatives, women’s groups, self help groups (men and women), rural youth clubs/Associations, Residents’ welfare associations, grassroots level NGOs, political groups and NSS volunteers and Youth groups in schools
- Children's Rights Communications- Designing and developing CRC communication materials and media interventions in education and awareness building Programmes.
- Public awareness campaigns (Marches, Street meetings, street plays, human rights chains, rallies, CRC commemoration Day etc.,
- Research on child rights issues and concerning the UN Convention on Children’s Rights.
- Information exchange through electronic and non-electronic networking with local and international GOs and NGOs involved in the protection and promotion of children’s rights
- Provision of family support services to endangered children viz., Children on the streets, Child workers, Children who are risk of child abuse, children at risk via the media and children at risk of smoking and drug addiction.