Abstract: Children’s rights as set out in national and international instruments outline the fundamental obligations of society that are essential in meeting the needs of children. In Nigeria, the policies on the rights of children and young persons have been guided by the principles set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, as well as those in the Child’s Rights Act of 2003. Despite this, there are still challenges to the protection of children’s rights. Using a doctrinal methodology, the paper examines the history of the development of children’s rights before discussing some of the theories and approaches to children’s rights. The paper considers that the concept of children’s rights has been appreciated in Nigeria, as children are recognised as an important part of the society. However, there are differences from the western concept of children’s rights as well as societal issues which may lead to challenges in the acceptance and implementation of internationally recognised standards. Ultimately, to make children’s rights a reality, the existing theories need to be merged with the unique cultural norms in Nigeria.
Keywords: Child, Rights, Human Rights, Children’s Rights.
Title: A Review of the History and Theories Surrounding the Concept of Children’s Rights in Nigeria
Author: Safiyyah Ummu Mohammed, Amina Umar Ruwan Doruwa
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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