Safeguarding the Future: The Evolution of International Child Rights and the Indian Context

This article provides an overview of the international normative and institutional framework established for the protection and well-being of children. It traces the historical trajectory of child rights, from early legal traditions to the modern era of the United Nations (UN) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The discussion highlights the core principles of the contemporary child rights regime, including the "best interests of the child" and "participation rights," while examining the mechanisms for accountability such as the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Finally, the article evaluates Indian state practice, contrasting India’s robust constitutional and legislative commitments with the significant ground-level challenges of malnutrition and administrative apathy. It concludes by emphasizing the need for stronger compliance measures, participatory welfare governance, and structural reform to translate legal standards into tangible outcomes for children.