WELCOME
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Women and children are vulnerable groups in the society because they are exposed to the possibility of being harmed or attacked physically and emotionally and as such they are entitled to special care, support and protection. The United Nations recognized this reality in relation to children in December 1959 when it adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. The Declaration stated
"WHEREAS the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity needs special safeguard and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth... "WHEREAS mankind owes to the child the best it has to give, Now the General Assembly proclaims this Declaration of the Rights of the Child to the end that he may have a happy childhood and enjoy for his own good and for the good of the society the rights and freedoms herein set forth and calls upon parents, upon men and women as individuals and upon voluntary organizations local authorities and national governments to recognize these rights and strive for their observance by legislative and other measures progressively taken in accordance with the following principles.."
In November 1989, the principles enshrined in the Declaration were transformed into legally binding obligations for state parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Only two states - the United States of America and Somalia are not party to the treaty.
The unequal and discriminatory treatment meted out to women was first officially addressed by the United Nations in November 1967 in the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and later incorporated in a legally binding document in December 1979 when it adopted the Convention on the Elimination of the all Forms of Discrimination against Women. The Convention noted that 1. discrimination against women violates the principles of equality of rights and respect for human dignity, 2. is an obstacle to the participation of women, on equal terms with men, in the political, social, economic and cultural life of their countries, 3. hampers the growth of the prosperity of society and the family and makes more difficult the full development of the potentialities of women in the service of their countries and humanity.
It equally noted that in situations of poverty women have the least access to food, health, education, training and opportunities for employment and other needs. Of equal importance is the understanding in the Convention that the full and complete development of a country, the welfare of the world and the cause of peace require the maximum participation of women on equal terms with men in all fields. Finally, it insists on the understanding that in the light of the great contribution of women to the welfare of the family and to the development of society which has not yet been fully recognized, the social significance of maternity and the role of both parents in the family and in the upbringing of children, and the role of women in procreation which should not be a basis for discrimination, the upbringing of children should be a shared responsibility between men and women and society generally.
Thus, it suggests that there ought to be a change in the traditional role of men as well as the role of women in society and the family for full equality between men and women to be achieved,
These are laudable attempts to demonstrate the dignity of all human beings regardless of their sex and should motivate all right thinking persons to rise to fight to protect women and children. WE WELCOME YOU TO COME JOIN US AS WE PURSUE A BETTER WORLD OF EQUALITY AND PROTECTION OF THE VULNERABLE AMONG US. WELCOME TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S WORLD BLOG.
