Each one of you (
children) is your own person endowed with rights, worthy of respect and dignity.
Nelson Mandela
On 20th November, 1989, that the UN General Assembly made a definite pledge to improve the condition of
children worldwide. It adopted as a human treaty the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Built on varied legal systems and cultural traditions, the Convention on the Rights of the Child was formulated after ten years of intensive research with inputs from cultures and countries all over the world. India has also signed the UNCRC in 1992.
To ensure the essence, said in the pledge was formed by CASP Plan, an NGO of India in 1998. Bal Panchayat or children's council is a unique platform and strong group of children that address child rights and issues. It is a forum through which children can express themselves and at the same time learn about themselves, their rights, their duties and their world.
Children between 12 - 17 years of age are eligible to be
members of Bal Panchayat. Each Panchayat has its own President, Secretary and Reporter who are elected members and hold office for a period of six months. Children elect the office bearers themselves through a vote. Panchayat meetings are held on a regular basis during which children get together for discussions, to set goals, to formulate plan of action etc. Based on these decisions children design and implement their activities.
Bal Panchayat was created with an aim of making children aware of their fundamental rights. It provides children a healthy, aware atmosphere in which they can grow to become mature, well balanced individuals. It aims to educate children regarding their rights.
The future plan of Bal Panchayat is now to develop into a national forum so that advocacy of child rights can be carried out at a national level. They wants to work to handle different aspects of activities like cultural, research and information, health, education, communication at the country level.
After the 8 years of formation of Bal Panchayat, children are not only aware themselves of their rights and the outside world, but they are also sensitizing their friends and the people of community about child and other social issues.