Kids these days are far more savvy than we were when I was growing up, especially now that there is a  thing called the United Nations Charter on the Rights of the Child. When I was ten I had never heard of such a thing as Rights but kids these days are very well clued up on theirs.

Having read this charter I have to agree that in principle they set out very clearly what should exist anyway through simple common sense. Unfortunately most of those Rights are denied and abused horrendously around the world and then there are those nations which refused to sign the charter at all.

My six year old son brought home from school this week a brochure featuring a character called Rory Rights and it’s message was to inform children, via Rory, of their basic human rights. Now, it wasn’t anything over the top or left wing – Rory informs that each and every child has a right to love and protection; security and a home; care and nourishment; a family to care for them; treatment when they are sick…

This is great and I went over what Rory had to say with James and we discussed it – James also gave me and his Dad top marks for providing well for his rights in this regard

But while kids have and know their rights what about parents…?

It is fine educating kids all about their basic rights but I am convinced more time and money should be spent instead on educating parents about their obligations. It goes without saying, and I have written about the issue here more times than I care to count, that many adults today consider breeding to be a national past time fully funded by the taxpayer. There are too many people bringing babies into this world who have little to no thought at all on how to care for them, nor the desire to do so – there are too many people breeding who should not be allowed the keep a pet let alone a child.

The charter of the Rights of the Child needs a complement – a charter for the Obligations of the Parent, and some of the articles could include these for starters…

* A parent WILL provide above adequate housing and shelter for their child.

* A parent WILL treat their child with utmost love and tenderness.

* A parent WILL NOT cause ANY form of physical or emotional damage to their child.

* A parent WILL provide food, water, nourishment and medical care to their child regardless of circumstances.

* A parent WILL NOT allow any other individual to harm, abuse or humiliate their child in any form whatsoever.

* A parent WILL accept that from the moment of birth their child’s life, safety, happiness and well being is of the utmost importance ABOVE ALL ELSE.

* A parent WILL NOT expect due payment from their child at any time in their life for providing these basic needs because children do not ask to be born nor have a choice in who their parents are.

I doubt that such a charter would ever be drawn up – as much as it desperately needs to be these days – but with the numbers of babies and young children being killed by their own carers in recent times something really needs to be done…and soon.

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