This thesis concerns the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (the CRC) in Indonesia: The chasm between theory and practice. Despite the enactment of several laws and regulations aimed at protecting the rights of the child, Indonesias implementation of childrens rights remains very limited. The theme of this thesis is that, despite the existence of adequate written laws, a state can fail to achieve an effective implementation of human rights, as exemplified by Indonesia. This thesis will focus on the impact of the rule of law on the holistic well-being of children, a group that Indonesia has acknowledged plays a strategic role and is in a unique position [to ensure] the continued existence of the nation.
The development of the rule of law and its impact on the implementation of the CRC in Indonesia will be compared to Australia, a state where the CRC has been much better implemented. There is an inextricable link between the rule of law and human rights. The prevailing view is that the rule of law does not depend on written laws; the rule of law is more about the extra-legal aspects of a society, such as culture, socio-economic factors and political factors. In the absence of the rule of law, human rights can only be selectively implemented and enforced.
The rights of the child are a global human rights issue, which is particularly pertinent to Indonesia, a nation with a poor record for implementing childrens rights. Childrens rights are well established in international law, largely due to the adoption of the CRC. The CRC has provided the greatest contribution to the field of childrens rights and will serve as the focus of this thesis. Apart from being the most universally ratified human rights convention in history, the CRC expressly recognises a range of childrens rights including civil, political, socio-economic and cultural rights. More importantly, the CRC shifted the responsibility for implementing childrens rights from parents and local communities to State Parties. The CRC is thus an advanced tool for assessing the standard of childrens rights internationally and for implementing change, and will be used to compare the current status of childrens rights in Indonesia and Australia.
Arguably, the issue of childrens rights is complex and the implementation of childrens rights requires a multifaceted approach. This thesis will conclude with recommendations on how Indonesia can move forward to achieve a better implementation of childrens rights.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/279825 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | susi_susantijo@uph.edu, Susi Susantijo |
| Publisher | Murdoch University |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://www.murdoch.edu.au/goto/CopyrightNotice, Copyright Susi Susantijo |
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