Kailash Satyarthi's First Law: A Child's Right To Freedom

what was the first law that kailash satyarthi

Kailash Satyarthi is an Indian social reformer and children's rights activist who has dedicated his life to campaigning against child labour and advocating for the universal right to education. In 1998, he conceived and led the Global March Against Child Labour, a series of demonstrations and marches across 103 countries, which helped spur the United Nations' International Labour Organization (ILO) to adopt a convention protecting children against exploitation and hazardous work. This convention, known as Convention No. 182, was formally passed in 1999 and became the fastest-ratified convention in the ILO's history. In addition to his work on child labour, Satyarthi has also been active in addressing issues such as child trafficking, slavery, and violence against children. His efforts have resulted in the rescue of over 83,000 children from exploitative situations in India. In recognition of his work, Satyarthi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, which he dedicated to the advancement of children's rights.

lawshun

Kailash Satyarthi founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) in 1980, advocating for social justice and peace for children in India

Kailash Satyarthi is an Indian social reformer who has advocated against child labour in India and for the universal right to education. He is the founder of multiple social activist organisations, including Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), which he established in 1980. BBA is a people's movement for social justice, equity, education, and peace for all children in India. The organisation's vision is to create a child-friendly society where children are free from exploitation and receive a free and quality education.

Satyarthi has played a pivotal role in steering Indian civil society to demand amendments to Indian criminal law to counter rape and gender-based violence, which eventually led to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act of 2013. He has also been instrumental in promoting CSR initiatives in various sectors, including garment, mica mining, and cocoa farming.

Through BBA, Satyarthi has liberated tens of thousands of children in India from child labour, slavery, and trafficking. The organisation has been involved in various campaigns and initiatives to achieve its goals. For example, in 2001, BBA led a campaign demanding the Fundamental Right to Education, resulting in a constitutional amendment and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. BBA also works on policy and legislative changes by approaching the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts to make and enforce policies in favour of children.

In addition to his work with BBA, Satyarthi established GoodWeave International (formerly Rugmark), a network of non-profit organisations dedicated to ending illegal child labour in the rug-making industry. He also founded the Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation, which advocates for beneficial policies for children's rights. In 1998, he conceived and led the Global March Against Child Labour, an 80,000 km march across 103 countries to demand an international law against the worst forms of child labour. This march became one of the largest social movements ever on behalf of exploited children.

Satyarthi's efforts have been recognised through numerous prestigious awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, which he co-received with Malala Yousafzai for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.

lawshun

He led the Global March Against Child Labour in 1998, covering 80,000 km across 103 countries

In 1998, Kailash Satyarthi conceived and led the Global March Against Child Labour, a movement that covered 80,000 km across 103 countries. This march was one of the largest social movements in history, with 7.2 million participants, including children, who were the icons of the movement. The Global March Against Child Labour demanded an international law against the worst forms of child labour.

Satyarthi's efforts to end child labour began before the 1998 march. In 1993, he led an awareness march against child labour from Nagar Utari to Delhi, spanning 2000 km. In 1994, he established the first civil society-business coalition, GoodWeave (formerly Rugmark), which provided the first voluntary labelling, monitoring, and certification system for rugs manufactured without child labour in South Asia. GoodWeave operated campaigns in Europe and the United States during the late 1980s and early 1990s to raise consumer awareness about the accountability of global corporations in socially responsible consumerism and trade. In 1996, Satyarthi put forth a proposal for an international law against the worst forms of child labour, and he innovatively conceptualised the Global March Against Child Labour.

The 1998 Global March Against Child Labour began on June 2, when civil society, under Satyarthi's leadership, was permitted to enter the Palais des Nations, the Geneva headquarters of the United Nations, for the first time in the history of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The march eventually led to the adoption of ILO Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labour. Satyarthi's work with Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), or the Save the Childhood Movement, has liberated more than 130,000 children in India from child labour, slavery, and trafficking. He has also established rehabilitation centres for rescued children in India, such as the short-term transit rehabilitation centre 'Mukti Ashram' in Delhi in 1991 and the long-term rehabilitation centre 'Bal Ashram' in Virat Nagar in 1998.

Satyarthi has advocated for the universal right to education and played a pivotal role in making education a Constitutional Provision in India, which led to the Right to Education Act in 2009. He has also addressed the United Nations' General Assembly, International Labour Conference, UN Human Rights Commission, UNESCO, and various Parliamentary Hearings. In 2014, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for their right to education.

lawshun

Satyarthi's efforts led to the adoption of ILO Convention No. 182, addressing the worst forms of child labour

Kailash Satyarthi is an Indian social reformer and children's rights activist who has campaigned against child labour in India and advocated for the universal right to education. In 1980, he founded the nonprofit Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA; “Save the Childhood Movement”), which has liberated more than 130,000 children in India from child labour, slavery, and trafficking.

In 1996, Kailash proposed an international law on policy against the worst forms of child labour. In 1998, he conceived and led the Global March Against Child Labour, an 80,000 km-long march across 103 countries to demand an International Law on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. This became one of the largest social movements ever on behalf of exploited children. On June 2, 1998, for the first time in the history of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), civil society under the leadership of Kailash was permitted to enter the Palais des Nations (Geneva headquarters of the United Nations).

The march eventually led to the adoption of ILO Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labour. This convention protects children against exploitation and hazardous work. In addition to his work on the Global March Against Child Labour, Kailash has also been involved in other initiatives to end child labour and trafficking, such as establishing GoodWeave International (formerly Rugmark), a network of non-profit organizations dedicated to ending illegal child labour in the rug-making industry. GoodWeave International provided the first voluntary labelling, monitoring, and certification system of rugs manufactured without the use of child labour in South Asia.

Kailash has also addressed the United Nations' General Assembly, International Labour Conference, UN Human Rights Commission, UNESCO, and several Parliamentary Hearings. In 2015, he sought the support of the ruling party to expedite the passage of the Child Labour Amendment Bill in the Parliament of India. In 2016, he engineered the first-ever moral platform, Laureates and Leaders, which brings together Nobel Laureates and global leaders to raise their voices for the cause of children.

lawshun

He established GoodWeave International, a non-profit organisation dedicated to ending child labour in the rug-making industry

Kailash Satyarthi is an Indian social reformer and children's rights activist. He has founded multiple social activist organisations, including Bachpan Bachao Andolan, Global March Against Child Labour, Global Campaign for Education, and Bal Ashram Trust.

In 1994, Satyarthi established GoodWeave International (formerly Rugmark), a non-profit organisation dedicated to ending illegal child labour in the rug-making industry. GoodWeave International was the first voluntary labelling, monitoring, and certification system for rugs manufactured without child labour in South Asia. The organisation provided consumers with the confidence that the rugs they purchased were produced without the use of child labour.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, GoodWeave International (then Rugmark) operated campaigns in Europe and the United States to raise consumer awareness about the accountability of global corporations regarding socially responsible consumerism, trade, and supply chains. Rugmark International re-branded the certification program in 2009, introducing the GoodWeave label to reflect the organisation's expanded scope and continued commitment to ending child labour in the rug-making industry.

Satyarthi's work with GoodWeave International is just one example of his dedication to ending child labour and exploitation. He has also led multiple marches and campaigns against child labour, including the Global March Against Child Labour in 1998, which traversed 80,000 km across 103 countries. This march was a pivotal moment in the fight against child labour, leading to the adoption of the ILO Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labour.

Satyarthi's efforts to end child labour and exploitation have been recognised internationally. In 2014, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with Malala Yousafzai, for their "struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education."

Supreme Court's Law-Making Powers

You may want to see also

lawshun

Satyarthi played a pivotal role in amending Indian criminal law to counter rape and gender-based violence, resulting in the 2013 Criminal Law Amendment Act

Kailash Satyarthi, an Indian social reformer, played a pivotal role in amending Indian criminal law to counter rape and gender-based violence, resulting in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013. Satyarthi, born in a small town in Madhya Pradesh, India, has dedicated his life to campaigning against child labour and advocating for the universal right to education. In 1998, he conceived and led the Global March against Child Labour, covering 80,000 km across 103 countries, demanding an international law against the worst forms of child labour. This led to the adoption of the ILO Convention No. 182 on child labour.

Satyarthi's efforts to end child exploitation and his work with various social activist organisations, such as Bachpan Bachao Andolan, further contributed to his impact on policy-making. Following the brutal gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedic student in Delhi in December 2012, Satyarthi advocated for amendments to India's criminal law. He steered the Indian Civil Society towards demanding changes to counter rape and gender-based violence. This resulted in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, which amended the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, regarding sexual offences.

The 2013 Act recognised new offences, such as acid attacks, sexual harassment, voyeurism, and stalking, and introduced stricter punishments for trafficking, sexual assault, and gang rape. Satyarthi's work in this area was driven by his belief that child labour and gender-based violence are interconnected issues that require systemic change. His efforts were recognised internationally when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, alongside Malala Yousafzai, for their work against the suppression of children and their right to education.

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, also known as the Nirbhaya Act, was a significant step forward in addressing sexual violence and gender-based crimes in India. It was promulgated by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, and received presidential assent on April 2, 2013, coming into effect retroactively from February 3, 2013. The Act was a response to the public outrage following the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, which sparked widespread protests and international condemnation.

While the Act was a notable development, it has also faced criticism from human rights and women's rights organisations. Critics argue that it does not fully address certain issues, such as marital rape and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. Additionally, there have been concerns about the effectiveness of the Act in practice due to issues with law enforcement, particularly regarding the handling of cases by police officers and the investigation process. Despite these criticisms, the Act represents a significant step in India's efforts to address rape and gender-based violence, with Satyarthi playing a pivotal role in its enactment.

Frequently asked questions

The first law that Kailash Satyarthi helped pass was the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act in 1986. However, he was not satisfied with the tenets of the law and found them ineffective.

Kailash Satyarthi started his crusade against child labour in India in the early 1980s, when the term "child labour" was unheard of. From 1980 to 1986, he made several representations to the Government of India, backed by numerous raid-and-rescue operations for child slaves.

Kailash Satyarthi's efforts have led to the liberation of more than 85,000 children in India from exploitation through education and rehabilitation. He has also helped to establish rehabilitation centres for rescued children, such as 'Mukti Ashram' in Delhi and 'Bal Ashram' in Jaipur, India.

Kailash Satyarthi has won the Nobel Peace Prize, the Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) Defender of Democracy Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (USA), the Medal of the Italian Senate, and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Human Rights Award (Germany), among others.

Kailash Satyarthi has founded multiple social activist organisations, including Bachpan Bachao Andolan, Global March Against Child Labour, Global Campaign for Education, Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation, and Bal Ashram Trust. He also established GoodWeave International (formerly Rugmark), a network of non-profit organisations dedicated to ending illegal child labour in the rug-making industry.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment