A child is a human being who is between the stages of birth and puberty. Biologically, the term can also be applied to the fetus. In legal terms, a child refers to any person who has not reached the age of majority in a particular jurisdiction. Children generally have fewer rights and responsibilities than adults, and are considered unable to make serious decisions on their own.
The United Nations defines the rights of children in its Declaration on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1959. It serves as a guide for national law and international policies related to children. The Declaration has been widely ratified and influences international trends in children’s issues.
In many societies, childhood is viewed as a time of innocence and vulnerability. It is a period of growth, exploration and learning, during which a strong emotional bond develops between a parent and their child. Many people believe that children have a special place in the world, and they are important to their families. However, in many countries, children face great hardships due to poverty, war, lack of education and other social and economic factors.
Despite these challenges, some children are protected by the laws of their nation, and have access to a good standard of living. Children can be vulnerable to abuse and neglect, but they are also capable of great generosity and compassion. This is reflected in their capacity to love, which transcends cultural boundaries and religious faiths.
While there are many different opinions about the exact meaning and definition of a child, the Bible views children as physical, moral, spiritual, cognitive, emotional, and social beings who have been created in God’s image and likeness (Psalm 139:13-16). It is believed that each child has been gifted with an individual purpose, and that God desires to cultivate his or her potential through life-giving relationships with parents and other adults.
Historically, the idea of childhood has been influenced by social and economic circumstances. In the 19th century, for example, the divergence between high-minded romantic ideals of childhood and the reality of exploitation of children in the workplace led to the first efforts at legal protection for children.
Today, the focus on children continues to be a global priority for many nations and organisations, from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to the International Labour Organisation and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, as well as countless child-focused charity initiatives. The annual State of the World’s Children report is one of the most thorough and fortified analyses of global trends affecting children. Each edition examines a specific issue in detail, including disability, conflict and war, child labor, urbanisation, early childhood development, and more. This enables the UN Children’s Fund to provide a clear overview of global trends that affect the lives of children.