Attached
O
ut o f unregistered global
child births in 2007,
nearly half is reported
from South Asia. Out o f all young
women in the world who got married
before the age o f 18 years, half live
in South Asia. Thirteen percent of all
children in South Asia are engaged
in labour. Trafficking, sexual
exploitation and abuse are other
major child problems in the region.
Child problems are interrelated. This
study examines (a) the interrelation
o f selected child problems, (b)
addresses the infringement o f selected
child rights and legal measures
enforced to prohibit childproblems in
South Asia. The study is based on
secondary data regarding South Asian
and other developing economies.
The study reveals that unregistered
births aggravate the problems of child
marriage and child labour. Poverty
is another reason for the prevalence
of early marriages and child labour.
In. comparison with other countries,
theinfringement o f child rights in Sri
Lanka is the lowest in the case of
unregistered child births, child
marriage and child labour. Sri Lanka
has sometimes special laws regarding
child rights. The study finds that with regard to some issues, certain
countries have no laws. Marital rape
in Bangladesh and registration o f
births in Bhutan can be stated as
examples. Some countries have such
laws, but other issues such as cultural
and traditional opinions and religious
views do not allow general laws to
be enforced. Sometimes law is not
sufficient to provide or ensure
adequate security. Punishment in
families and in schools in India and
punishment in schools in Maldives can
be stated as examples. All in all, it is
healthy for South Asian countries to
form a forum to get together and
review their individual experiences
and problems on child issues.
