The greatest threat to children’s rights is a dysfunctional family. This may be due to:
- Excessive demands on the family (illness, death, divorce, natural disaster, poverty, loss of employment, alcoholism, overcrowding, large family, violence and war)
- A lack of coping strategies available to the family (education, self-esteem, income, parenting skills, cultural beliefs, housing, friends, schools, safe neighbourhood, health and social services)
Infants and young children are totally dependent on their mothers or caregivers. Their family and social environment also have a huge influence on their wellbeing.
A rights-based approach to health focuses on the whole child and the creation of an environment which promotes the realisation of these rights. It implies duties and implications by the family, community and the state.