Еволюція ідей захисту прав дитини

Abstract

The article examines the ideas of children's rights protection from a historical perspective. It was found that in the Antiquity period, a child's life was not regarded as particularly valuable; children could be killed or left without proper care. The state had a significant influence on the process of child-rearing, shaping the skills and beliefs necessary for society. During the Middle Ages, children were seen as an economic resource for the family, and religion had a substantial impact on their upbringing. The Renaissance marked an important period for the development of humanistic ideas concerning human rights, including children's rights. Ideas emerged about the necessity of protecting children's rights, ensuring their proper upbringing, and creating a conducive environment for the development of their moral and intellectual qualities. Childhood began to be recognized as a distinct stage of life with its own unique characteristics and needs. In the Enlightenment period, ideas about the necessity of protecting and guaranteeing children's rights began to take shape. It was recognized that children had a certain level of freedom and rights to self-expression and selfrealization. The Industrial Revolution of the 18th-19th centuries initiated discussions about the need to recognize children's rights to protection from exploitation, improve their living conditions, and legally enshrine children's rights. From the beginning of the 20th century, following World War I, there was a growing interest in the issue of child protection in most European and North American countries. In 1924, the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted, which, despite being purely declarative, became the first international legal document aimed at protecting children's rights and interests. In 1959, as a continuation of the ideas of the Geneva Declaration, the UN General Assembly proclaimed the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which was more comprehensive and detailed. However, these documents were not legally binding and served merely as recommendations. The 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child became the foundation for international protection of children's rights and is mandatory for implementation by the states that have ratified it.