The Essential-Liberalism Manifesto (Article X)
X. RIGHTS OF A CHILD
1. Rights of all
infants equal: All infants have the same rights,
whether they are born male or female, in or out of wedlock, or to
adoptive or biological parents.
2. State to make valid guardianship
demands: The state has the duty to demand that the
legal guardians of a child (typically the parents) bear the primary
responsibility for the rearing of the child, by having them take
steps to reasonably ensure their child’s health, well-being, safety,
and education. The state also has the duty, after due process, to
change the guardianship temporarily or permanently if such mandate
is not followed by the present guardians.
3. Child’s best interests as governing
principle: The child’s best interests serves as the
paramount legal principle in cases involving child custody disputes
and in other cases involving the child’s welfare.
4. Special protections granted to
minors: In addition to the fundamental
rights that can reasonably be applied also to minors, the state is
to give minors special rights and protections, primarily in guarding
them from undue physical and psychological harm. This includes, for
example, laws limiting or forbidding sexual conduct between adults
and minors, laws preventing children below a certain age from being
employed, laws limiting access to children from purveyors of harmful
products, and laws granting minors special rights before the courts.
Special provisions are to be made with respect to orphaned,
neglected, and abused children, including by seeking for them
suitable foster or adoptive parents. Adoptions of unwanted babies
are also to be encouraged by the state.
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Page last updated: October 15, 2008