Earth Protect Blog

A child’s wellbeing is the responsibility of several stakeholders, however, the important three are the family, the state and the community. According to the National Children’s Policy, which is the first of its type in Malta, launched this month, the importance of these stakeholders and the five aspects need to be looked at when defining a child’s welfare:

-          Home Environment

-          Social Wellbeing

-          Health and Environment

-          Leisure and Culture

The role of the family is a principal role where the upbringing of the children is their responsibility. According to the ‘the National Children’s Policy’ document, their responsibilities should include: encouraging children to exercise their rights; offering them protection; ensuring that they are safe and healthy; making sure that they attend school; encouraging them to develop their skills and talents to the best of their abilities; and empowering them to participate and to voice their opinions.

The role of the state is vital in recognizing the right of every child, including their rights to good standards of living which involves mental, physical, spiritual, moral and social development. The state is responsible for:

-          shielding all children from any form of discrimination and taking action to promote their rights and freedoms;

-          safeguarding children’s health and safety, including a child has a safe place to live, who have adequate parents/guardians

-          ensuring it aids and supports families towards having a work/life balance

-          accessing the highest attainable standard of health and medical treatment;

-          providing a clean, safe, enriching and child-friendly natural and urban environment;

-          ensuring each child has a right to an education

-          aiding the rights of children who are victims, accused or convicted of crime.

The role of the Community is the third stakeholder, which involves the parents/caregivers along with the state, civil society, and children themselves to play a pivotal role in warranting children’s rights. The community also includes the private industry, the media and any other stakeholders who should also act as a contributing force in advocating for children’s rights.

The community offers the following important roles:

-          contributing non-governmental services and support to families and children;

-          boosting private industry to provide more family- friendly measures;

-           to raise awareness and promote for children’s wellbeing

-          Urge the media to be share social and cultural beneficial, whilst being reliable and accurate information for the child;

-          Giving more to scientific research that furthers knowledge into social wellbeing in general and that of children in particular.