Myanmar’s New Children’s Law a Step Forward

Sub-title: 

Child Rights Law Needs Further Reform, Effective Enforcement

Description: 

"After years of discussion and debate, Myanmar has finally enacted a law to protect the rights of children. Consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Myanmar has ratified, the law defines a child as anyone younger than 18 and provides all children born in Myanmar have the right to birth registration. This is important, but other shortcomings need to be addressed. Myanmar should revise the law to provide all children with the right to a nationality and not be stateless – therefore, full citizenship rights. The children of parents Myanmar does not recognize as citizens, notably Rohingya Muslims, or who face discriminatory application of the law, such as Kaman Muslims or women trafficked to China, are denied Myanmar citizenship. Without citizenship, children have difficulty entering school, obtaining health care, and traveling inside the country as well as abroad. Those born in Myanmar often will be stateless, which international law tries to prevent..."

Creator/author: 

Manny Maung

Source/publisher: 

"Human Rights Watch"

Date of Publication: 

2019-08-27

Date of entry: 

2019-08-28

Grouping: 

  • Individual Documents

Category: 

Countries: 

Myanmar

Language: 

English

Resource Type: 

text

Text quality: 

    • Good