NCJ Number
134686
Date Published
1983
Length
399 pages
Annotation
The development of childrens' rights and child legislation is described for Greece, Israel, Kenya, Norway, England and the United States.
Abstract
The evolution of children rights and its current status is described for each country. Laws affecting children, if present, are listed in categories of child definition by age, non-discrimination, name, nationality, and registration, family relations, State supervision of parental obligations, guardianship, adoption, foster care, protection of child's health, child's welfare, education institutional discipline, labor, protection of children from sexual abuse and prostitution, children in judicial proceedings, juvenile delinquency, and juvenile courts and proceedings. In Greece, there is a need for reform of the law regarding children, particularly replacement of the patriarchal family with the concept of a 2-parent family and replacement of the husband's exclusive right of decision making with the common right of the two spouses to decide for their family. In Israel, the legal status of the child is generally in accord with democratic principles; whereas, in Kenya the enforcement of childrens' rights law remains minimal. In Norway, ensuring the rights of children according to the law in practice should improve with the establishment of the office of ombudsman for children in Norway. The notion that children should have rights is of very recent origins in England; in contrast, in the United States, the legal system provides most extensive legal rights for children, yet still fails to protect the rights and needs of children in several areas.