ARE RIGHTS TO BLAME FOR TEENAGER’S UNRULY BEHAVIOUR?

By Ngandwe Ngandwe. Growing up is nothing but a journey and everyone takes this journey just once in their lifetime.It is said that children learn through imitating what adults do and also through seeing and hearing what people say and do.Children are indeed our most valuable resource but it seems that today`s generation has lost its direction. Patronizing Bars,rape, Drug abuse and early pregnancies are the order of the day and the question still stands, ARE RIGHTS TO BLAME FOR CHILDREN`S UNRULY BEHAVIOUR? The United Nation Convention on the Rights of the CHILD (UNCRC) defines a child as any person below the age 18 and anyone below that age is entitled to the rights depicted in the document. The document is based on 4 principles namely; The Best Interest of a Child, Non-Discrimination, Survival and Development and Participation. These rights were put in place to safeguard children`s lives and for the assurance of the equal treatment regardless of race, religion, social status and physical state. From the above statement it is evident that rights exist in order to protect children and not to influence any sort of unruly behaviour among children. There is a saying that the solutions to a lot of problems that will occur tomorrow largely depends on how our children grow up today and that it takes a whole community to raise a child.It is sad to know how parents in our societies choose to blame rights for their children`s bad behaviour in their communities. It is a fact that this generation has indeed lost discipline and what largely contributes to this is the misinterpretation of children`s rights among children. Media Network On Child`s Rights And Development executive director,Mr. HENRY KABWE said in an interview that,the perception of rights having an effect on how children behave is just not right and that people should be able to understand that rights are different from behaviour.He also said that,parents nowadays focus more on looking for money than taking care of their children and in as much as that is important,there is need for parents to change the way they take care of their children.He further said that children also play a role in defending their rights in the sense that they need to ensure that they lead in example by using their rights wisely and enjoying them. Perrykent Nkole, a child`s rights activist also said that children’s rights are there to protect them and they also come with responsibilities but it becomes a problem when children start taking advantage of their rights.He also said there is need for more sensitization about children`s rights and that its time for people to acknowledge children`s rights, embrace them and respect them. The BIBLE says that train up a child in a way he should go and when he is old he shall not depart.Hence there is need for parents to take keen interest in knowing about children`s rights in order for them to guide their children better. Above all,children make up 2 thirds of our population and all of our future.