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Rights of the Child in Nigeria

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Submitted By sammee
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INTRODUCTION
The idea of children having legally recognized rights is a revolutionary one in many ways. Historically, children have been under the control of their parents. Since children are presumed by law to lack the capacity of adults, they are denied full participation in the political, legal and social processes. In lieu of most rights, children are afforded special protection by the state. Today, however, many consider this control (and the special protection that accompanies it) to be harmful, and even oppressive, to children.
The legal rights of the Nigerian child are contained in various municipal laws and international instruments. These laws are based on certain fundamental principles relating to the promotion of human survival, prevention of harm, promotion and sustenance of human dignity and the enhancement of human development. These principles recognize the basic concept that the child is the foundation of the society and he or she assures its continuity. Accordingly, the survival and continuity of the human society depends upon the protection, preservation, nurture and development of the child. The word Right is derived from the Latin word rectus which means correct, straight, right as opposed to wrong. It may also mean in accord with law, morality and justice. As a norm, it may mean that to which a person has just and valid claim, whether it be land, or privilege of doing something or saying something such as the right of free speech. A right in its general sense is either the liberty (protected by law) of acting or abstaining from acting in a certain manner, or the power (enforced by law of compelling a specific person to do or abstain from doing a particular thing. Accordingly, a Legal Right is the capacity residing in one person of controlling, with the assent and the assistance of the State, the action of others. Thus, every right

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