CHILDREN ARE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW
No matter how big and strong we are, we will all die one day. Then, who will inherited the land, the world we live in? That falls to our precious children. These children will either make the world to be stronger or tear it down, depending on how they are raised and what their priorities are.
People get older with each year that passes. Children become adults and adults become elders and eventually die. We don’t live forever and its out children who will be the work force and the adult population of tomorrow. In countries with too few children there will be an increasingly aging population.. which can be disastrous once the older generation starts to retire and die off. For example, the abduction of three Israeli teenagers in 2014 in person of Gilad Shaar, Naftali Fraenkel and Eyal Yifrach which were latter killed. This tragedy brought a lot of confusion in the Middle East. As quoted by CNN “They sanctify death, we sanctify life” Netanyahu said comparing the teens with those who kill them. They sanctify cruelty and we mercy and compassion. That is the secret of our strength.
The right of a child

1. Definition of a child
A child is any person under the age of 18.

2. No discrimination
All children have all these rights, no matter who they are, where they live, what language they speak, what their religion is, what they think, what they look like, if they are a boy or girl, if they have a disability, if they are rich or poor, and no matter who their parents or families are or what their parents or families believe or do. No child should be treated unfairly for any reason.

3. Best interests of the child
When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children. All   adults should do what is best for children. Governments should make sure children are protected and looked after by their parents, or by other people when this is needed. Governments should make sure that people and places responsible for looking after children are doing a good job. 

4. Making rights real
Governments must do all they can to make sure that every child in their countries can enjoy all the rights in this Convention.

5. Family guidance as children develop
Governments should let families and communities guide their children so that, as they grow up, they learn to use their rights in the best way. The more children grow, the less guidance they will need.

6. Life survival and development
Every child has the right to be alive. Governments must make sure that children survive and develop in the best possible way.

7. Name and nationality
Children must be registered when they are born and given a name which is officially recognized by the government. Children must have a nationality (belong to a country). Whenever possible, children should know their parents and be looked after by them.

8. Identity
Children have the right to their own identity – an official record of who they are which includes their name, nationality and family relations. No one should take this away from them, but if this happens, governments must help children to quickly get their identity back.

9. Keeping families together
Children should not be separated from their parents unless they are not being properly looked after – for example, if a parent hurts or does not take care of a child. Children whose parents don’t live together should stay in contact with both parents unless this might harm the child. 

10. Contact with parents across countries
If a child lives in a different country than their parents, governments must let the child and parents travel so that they can stay in contact and be together.

11. Protection from kidnapping
Governments must stop children being taken out of the country when this is against the law – for example, being kidnapped by someone or held abroad by a parent when the other parent does not agree.

12. Respect for children’s views
Children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues that affect them. Adults should listen and take children seriously.

13. Sharing thoughts freely
Children have the right to share freely with others what they learn, think and feel, by talking, drawing, writing or in any other way unless it harms other people.

14. Freedom of thought and religion
Children can choose their own thoughts, opinions and religion, but this should not stop other people from enjoying their rights. Parents can guide children so that as they grow up, they learn to properly use this right.

15. Setting up or joining groups
Children can join or set up groups or organisations, and they can meet with others, as long as this does not harm other people.

16. Protection of privacy
Every child has the right to privacy. The law must protect children’s privacy, family, home, communications and reputation (or good name) from any attack.

17. Access to information
Children have the right to get information from the Internet, radio, television, newspapers, books and other sources. Adults should make sure the information they are getting is not harmful. Governments should encourage the media to share information from lots of different sources, in languages that all children can understand. 

18. Responsibility of parents
Parents are the main people responsible for bringing up a child. When the child does not have any parents, another adult will have this responsibility and they are called a “guardian”. Parents and guardians should always consider what is best for that child. Governments should help them. Where a child has both parents, both of them should be responsible for bringing up the child.

19. Protection from violence
Governments must protect children from violence, abuse and being neglected by anyone who looks after them.

20. Children without families
Every child who cannot be looked after by their own family has the right to be looked after properly by people who respect the child’s religion, culture, language and other aspects of their life.

21. Children who are adopted
When children are adopted, the most important thing is to do what is best for them. If a child cannot be properly looked after in their own country – for example by living with another family – then they might be adopted in another country.

22. Refugee children
Children who move from their home country to another country as refugees (because it was not safe for them to stay there) should get help and protection and have the same rights as children born in that country.

23. Children with disabilities
Every child with a disability should enjoy the best possible life in society. Governments should remove all obstacles for children with disabilities to become independent and to participate actively in the community.

24. Health, water, food, environment
Children have the right to the best health care possible, clean water to drink, healthy food and a clean and safe environment to live in. All adults and children should have information about how to stay safe and healthy.

25. Review of a child’s placement
Every child who has been placed somewhere away from home – for their care, protection or health – should have their situation checked regularly to see if everything is going well and if this is still the best place for the child to be.

26. Social and economic help
Governments should provide money or other support to help children from poor families.

27. Food, clothing, a safe home
Children have the right to food, clothing and a safe place to live so they can develop in the best possible way. The government should help families and children who cannot afford this.

28. Access to education
Every child has the right to an education. Primary education should be free. Secondary and higher education should be available to every child. Children should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level possible. Discipline in schools should respect children’s rights and never use violence.

29. Aims of education
Children’s education should help them fully develop their personalities, talents and abilities. It should teach them to understand their own rights, and to respect other people’s rights, cultures and differences. It should help them to live peacefully and protect the environment.

30. Minority culture, language and religion
Children have the right to use their own language, culture and religion – even if these are not shared by most people in the country where they live.

31. Rest, play, culture, arts
Every child has the right to rest, relax, play and to take part in cultural and creative activities.

32. Protection from harmful work
Children have the right to be protected from doing work that is dangerous or bad for their education, health or development. If children work, they have the right to be safe and paid fairly.

33. Protection from harmful drugs
Governments must protect children from taking, making, carrying or selling harmful drugs.

34. Protection from sexual abuse
The government should protect children from sexual exploitation (being taken advantage of) and sexual abuse, including by people forcing children to have sex for money, or making sexual pictures or films of them.

35. Prevention of sale and trafficking
Governments must make sure that children are not kidnapped or sold, or taken to other countries or places to be exploited (taken advantage of).

36. Protection from exploitation
Children have the right to be protected from all other kinds of exploitation (being taken advantage of), even if these are not specifically mentioned in this Convention.

37. Children in detention
Children who are accused of breaking the law should not be killed, tortured, treated cruelly, put in prison forever, or put in prison with adults. Prison should always be the last choice and only for the shortest possible time. Children in prison should have legal help and be able to stay in contact with their family.

38. Protection in war
Children have the right to be protected during war. No child under 15 can join the army or take part in war.

39. Recovery and reintegration
Children have the right to get help if they have been hurt, neglected, treated badly or affected by war, so they can get back their health and dignity.

40. Children who break the law
Children accused of breaking the law have the right to legal help and fair treatment. There should be lots of solutions to help these children become good members of their communities. Prison should only be the last choice.

41. Best law for children applies
If the laws of a country protect children’s rights better than this Convention, then those laws should be used.

42. Everyone must know children’s rights
Governments should actively tell children and adults about this Convention so that everyone knows about children’s rights. 

43 to 54. How the Convention works
These articles explain how governments, the United Nations – including the Committee on the Rights of the Child and UNICEF – and other organisations work to make sure all children enjoy all their rights.

Challenges children face
The most challenging issues facing children include:
#1. Poverty
Poverty is one of the most significant issues facing children today. According to UNICEF, around 333 million children live in extreme poverty. While kids only make up ⅓ of the global population, they represent half of people living on less than $2.15 a day. Poverty affects every area of a child’s life, including their health, their access to basic services like clean water and food, their education and much more. Poverty also makes kids more vulnerable to death at a young age.
#2. Hunger
According to Save the Children, 153 million kids are facing food insecurity. While everyone needs food to live, kids are more likely to die from malnutrition and nutrition-related diseases. Around 1 in 5 deaths of kids under five can be traced back to a lack of nutritious food. For those who survive, hunger harms cognitive and physical development. Poverty, climate change, forced migration, and war and conflict are just a few of the drivers of hunger.
#3. Lack of access to clean water
According to 2021 data from UNICEF, around 450 million children live in areas with “high, or extremely high, water vulnerability.” Broken down, this means 1 in 5 kids lack the water they need. This can lead to serious issues, like water-borne illnesses. The World Health Organization lists many diseases spread by contaminated water, such as cholera, dysentery, polio and diarrhea. Children are especially at risk.
#4. Death by preventable illnesses
There’s been significant progress in reducing deaths of kids under five years old, but millions still die from illnesses. In 2021, UNICEF found that 5 million kids under five died, many from preventable conditions like malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea. Vaccines can save the lives of millions of kids, but in 2022, 20.5 million kids did not get life-saving vaccines. This represents a decline from 2019 as factors like the COVID pandemic, supply issues, misinformation and conflict made global vaccination more difficult.
#5. Lack of education
Education access is a human right, but many children don’t get the schooling they deserve. In 2022, the UN estimated that 244 million children between 6-18 years old were not in school. Sub-Saharan Africa struggles the most as it has the most kids and youth out of school. Central and Southern Asia has the second-highest out-of-school population. In better news, the gender gap in education is resolving, though there are still regional differences that need to be addressed.
#6. Child labor
All over the world, children are forced to work in industries like agriculture, mining, domestic work and more. Child labor is a violation of a child’s human rights as it threatens a child’s well-being and health, as well as their access to education. According to UNICEF, more than 1 in 5 kids ages 5-17 years old are forced into labor in the world’s poorest countries. Causes of child labor vary, but poverty is the most common driver. When families and communities live in extreme poverty, everyone – including very young kids – must contribute to the household by working.
#7. Gender-based violence
Gender-based violence (GBV) affects boys and girls, but in different ways. According to Save the Children, violence against girls includes sexual violence, harassment, female genital mutilation, abuse and intimate partner violence. Boys are often targeted for labor trafficking and detention, as they’re seen as violent or a threat to security because of their gender. GBV gets worse during times of conflict.
#8. Child marriage
When a child is forced to marry before age 18, it’s a violation of their rights. For girls, early marriage can lead to social isolation, a disruption of education, career limitations and an increased risk for domestic violence. The impact on boys is less studied, but they face negative effects such as increased career pressure, an increased risk for exploitation and disrupted education. More girls than boys are forced into early marriage; UNICEF estimates that in West and Central Africa, around 4 in 10 girls are married before age 18.
#9. Early pregnancy
In 2022, about 13% of adolescent girls gave birth before they turned 18. Pregnancy before age 18 has a variety of negative impacts. The disruption to education is a major one, as it can limit future economic prospects. Girls who become pregnant young may also face social stigma, violence by family members, forced marriage and serious health issues. The causes of early pregnancy include childhood sexual abuse and early marriage. The social pressure to become a mother can also influence the age at which a girl gets pregnant. In certain societies, early marriage and pregnancy may be the best and only option for a young woman.
#10. Effects of war and conflict
During times of war and violent conflict, children are the most vulnerable. According to UNICEF, over 400 million kids live in countries affected by war and violence. Children also make up half of the civilians killed by landmines and explosives. In many places, violent conflict is escalating. In Ukraine, children are affected by death, injuries, mass displacement and an increased risk of abuse, abduction, human trafficking and sexual exploitation. In the Gaza Strip, half of the 1.9 million displaced people are children, while thousands have been killed or injured.
#11. Exploitation of kids in war
Children aren’t only killed, injured and displaced during war; they can be forced to participate in violence. According to UNICEF, over 105,000 kids were recruited and exploited for conflict between 2005 and 2022. Boys and girls are both targeted for fighting, scouting, cooking, sending messages and sexual exploitation. Armed groups often kidnap kids from their homes and force them to fight, but some join groups to try and earn money for their families. Child soldiers endure both physical and psychological wounds.
#12. Climate change
Climate change harms everyone, but children are especially vulnerable. The United States Environmental Protection Agency lists a few reasons why, such as the fact that developing bodies are more susceptible to things like heat and waterborne illnesses. Kids are also dependent on adults during extreme events, so without an adult’s help, they are very vulnerable during floods, hurricanes, tsunamis and other disasters. UNICEF estimates that around 1 billion kids (which is nearly half of the world’s 2.2 billion children) live in one of the 33 countries considered “extremely high-risk” for climate change impacts.
#13. Air pollution
Air pollution damages everyone’s health, but children are especially vulnerable. The World Health Organization lists six main reasons, including the fact that children’s brains are still developing, their bodies are less effective at managing toxins and they breathe in more air per unit of body weight than adults. According to data, air pollution could be causing over 1,200 deaths of kids under 18 in EEA member and collaborating countries every year. Things like traffic, heating and industry cause the most air pollution. Because children can’t vote on air pollution policies, adults must take steps to reduce air pollution and protect kids.
#14. Family separation
A variety of things can separate families: natural disasters, trafficking, war, poverty and migration. It’s difficult to know exactly how many kids experience separations, but at mid-2023, 110 million people were displaced. Many of those individuals are kids, and family separation is often a result of displacement. Kids separated from their families suffer severe psychological and emotional effects that can follow them the rest of their lives. According to a PBS interview with developmental psychologist Hirokazu Yoshikawa, family separations can even cause impaired memory, reduced auditory processing and an increased risk of physical disease.
#15. Human trafficking
Human trafficking is an illicit practice and therefore hard to track accurately, but data suggests kids make up 27% of all trafficking victims. Both boys and girls are targeted, but boys are less likely to be identified. They’re also more likely to be forced into labor or recruitment by armed groups, while girls are more likely to be sexually exploited and forced into marriage. Children who are trafficked endure physical, sexual, emotional and psychological injuries, many of which extend into adulthood.
#16. Increased risks for LGBTQ+ kids
LGBTQ+ kids face the same vulnerabilities as kids who aren’t LGBTQ+, but their risks are often increased. According to the CDC in the United States, LGBTQ+ young people face higher health and suicide risks than their peers. Around 43% of transgender youth were bullied at school, while 29% attempted suicide. Expanding out to the rest of the world, about 64 countries still have laws criminalizing homosexuality, while discrimination can affect a person’s ability to access healthcare, get a job, get housing and so on. LGBTQ+ kids can see how people like them are treated and face significant mental health challenges.
#17. Racism
Racism places extreme stress on the human body, while racial discrimination also affects a person’s access to good healthcare, housing, food, education, work and so on. According to Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, Black, indigenous, and other people of color have worse health issues and shorter lifespans than white people across all income levels. This affects every member of a family or community, including children. One study even found that childhood stress caused by traumas like poverty and racism can change the structure of a child’s developing brain. To protect children’s rights, societies need to address racism.
#18. Lack of mental health treatment
Children go through a lot of changes in their adolescent years, which makes them more vulnerable to mental health struggles. According to UNICEF, about 1 in 7 kids experienced a mental disorder in 2019. Depression is very common for kids aged 10-19 years old, while self-harm is among the top causes of death. Without proper treatment, kids can experience serious issues that affect adulthood, including their job opportunities and health.
#19. Lack of access to justice
Children deserve legal rights, but many countries fail in their duty to provide kids with access to justice. According to UNICEF, law enforcement officials deprive over 1 million kids of their rights to liberty. Once in the justice system, kids are often not given the education or resources they need to contact a lawyer, access money for legal fees or get other necessary support. Kids who witness crimes or who are victims of crimes like trafficking are often oppressed, as well. As human beings, kids should be treated equally under the law.
#20. Lack of birth registration
Birth registration is an official record of a child’s birth. It is a human rights matter because birth registration proves the existence of a child, establishes who their parents are and helps ensure a child’s other rights are respected. According to UNICEF, birth registration has increased over the years, but around 1 in 4 kids worldwide are not registered. Reasons include expensive fees, penalties for late registration, long journeys to registration facilities and a lack of knowledge about how to register a birth. Affordable, accessible birth registration is a vital part of protecting the rights of all children.
Importance of investing in Children
Potential for Growth: Children represent the next generation, and their development – emotionally, socially and intellectually – will shape the future of society. As they grow, they acquire skills and knowledge that will contribute to the economy, culture and governance of the nation.
Innovation and change: Young people tend to bring fresh perspective and innovative ideas. They are often more adaptable to change and can drive progress in technology, social movements and environmental initiatives.
Education and knowledge: The education that children receive equips them with the tools necessary to tackle future challenges. A well-educated youth can lead to advancements in various fields, including science, technology, engineering and the arts.
Values and Leadership: The values instilled in children today will influence the ethical and moral standards of future leaders. Teaching children about responsibility, empathy, and civic duty prepares them to take on leadership roles in the future.
Demographic significance: In many countries, children form a significant portion of the population. Their growth and development are crucial for maintaining a balanced demographic structure, which is essential for sustainable economic growth and social stability.
Collective responsibility
Honouring the memories of so many children affected by this type of tragedy around the globe with specific example to Eyal, Napthali and Dilav, it is the responsibility of all to protect the lives of children and making sure that they are being positively treated accordingly.
Conclusion
Overall viewing children as the leaders of tomorrow emphasizes the importance of investment in their education, health and well-being to ensure a prosperous and thriving society in the next years to come.

Reference

United Nation Convention on the right of the child. The Children version
www.quora.com/why-are-children-called-the-nation-builders
www.human-right-careers.com
CNN