Supreme Court Dismisses Child Rights Case on Streetism

The Supreme Court has dismissed a suit by Child Rights International against the state for failing to properly invoke the jurisdiction of the court. The court said while Child Rights International had genuine concerns, its legal team, did not present their case properly before the Apex court.

In its suit, Child Rights International, said the Constitution protects children and therefore allowing them to be victims of streetism is a violation of their right to education, health, human dignity, social and economic rights by government.

The organization therefore, wanted the Supreme Court, to declare that, the government was in violation of some provisions in the Constitution, for not taking steps to ensure that children did not engage in work that constitutes a threat to their health, and education.

Child Rights International also wanted the Supreme Court, to order government to define legal penalties to punish persons who exploit children for begging or other forms of economic exploitation.

Again, the organisation asked the court for an order, directing the government to provide rules and procedures for the provision of free basic medical services to poor children, street children or children in emergencies.

Executive Director of Child Rights International Mr. Bright Appiah, who spoke to the media, thanked the Supreme Court, for pointing them in the right direction, and said it is not about winning the case, but creating awareness on the menace of streetism and how it affects a country’s generation. Mr. Bright Appiah, said they may, re-apply to the Court, after going through, the court’s reasoning on the case.