Additional Victims of Mother's Crime: Violation of Fundamental Rights of Children (original) (raw)

2015, Additional Victims of Mother's Crime:Violation of Fundamental Rights of Children

Abstract: Around the globe children of prisoners are witnessed as sufferers of inhuman treatment. Whether left outside or kept with incarcerated mother, the unexpected, drastic change in the natural surroundings of the child deeply affects its psyche. The acquitted children left outside with their extended family or on their own, experience social alienation, stigmatization, environmental disruption, poverty, scorn, shame, fear and low self-esteem. Whereas, those confined behind bars with their mother, have to spend their life as prisoners and witness lack of health and hygiene conditions, stimulation, education and recreational opportunities, as well as violent and abusive environment which has detrimental effect on their mental as well as physical health. Under both of the above mentioned circumstances, the tiny toes of children are exposed to too many adversities which severely violates their fundamental rights of liberty, safety, protection and education. The Honourable Supreme Court of India issued guidelines for children of prisoners in 2006 but the fact worth mentioning is that most of its suggestions are just enshrined to the papers with no practical implementation. Though due to small number children of prisoners can be considered as minority but they should not be invisible from welfare policies. This paper attempts to shed light upon the fact that there is a great need for sensitization of society on the adverse effect of absence of mother figure in the most formative years due to her imprisonment. Sincere initiatives are required to minimize effect of mothers’ imprisonment on her young children. Beside this, outlook of society about incarceration also needed to be changed. Prison should be considered as place for reformation and rehabilitation and most importantly the innocent victims of justice i.e. offspring’s of prisoners should not be entitled to any sort of indignity because of the deeds of their mothers.