”Discrimination Against Children” in the Light of Landmark Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the Us Supreme Court

Abstract

One of the most significant and convoluted issues regarding the international protection of human rights is the right to non-discrimination. Discrimination, which can be defined as less favourable treatment in a narrow sense, undoubtedly poses a threat to various social groups in society; however, it is particularly a threat to children, as they are disadvantaged in terms of the power structure of society and are more vulnerable than adults due to their age-related necessities. A violation of rights during childhood can lead to much more serious and even irreparable consequences than a violation of rights experienced during adulthood, because it prevents or delays the flow of developmental opportunities during this period. Children who cannot influence decision-makers due to their inability to vote and who cannot assert their rights due to limited rights of participation and association face significant difficulties in expressing their experiences. In light of these facts, States have a great responsibility to ensure that a child whose rights have been violated due to discrimination based on ethnic background, disability, age, birth, other grounds such as religion, language, etc., can claim their rights, to compensate for the damage caused by the violation, and to prevent the recurrence of similar violations.

Keywords

• Discrimination
• Children’s Rights
• Discrimination Against Children
• ECtHR Landmark Decisions
• US Supreme Court Landmark Decisions

Avrupa İnsan Hakları Mahkemesi ve ABD Yüksek Mahkemesi’nin Önemli Kararları Işığında ‘Çocuklara Yönelik Ayrımcılık’

Abstract

İnsan haklarının uluslararası korunmasına ilişkin en önemli ve bir o kadar da karmaşık konulardan biri ayrımcılığa uğramama hakkıdır. En dar anlamıyla daha dezavantajlı muamele olarak tanımlanabilecek olan ayrımcılık, şüphesiz toplumdaki çeşitli sosyal gruplara yönelik bir tehdit oluşturmakta; ancak toplumun güç yapısı açısından avantajlı olmadıkları ve yaşa bağlı gereksinimleri nedeniyle yetişkinlere göre daha savunmasız oldukları için özellikle çocuklar için bir tehdit oluşturmaktadır. Çocukluk döneminde yaşanan bir hak ihlali, bu dönemdeki gelişim fırsatlarının akışını engellediği veya geciktirdiği için, yetişkinlik döneminde yaşanan bir hak ihlalinden çok daha zor, hatta telafisi imkansız sonuçlar doğurabilmektedir. Oy kullanamadıkları için karar vericileri etkileme konusunda etkisiz kalan, katılım ve örgütlenme hakları sınırlı olduğu için haklarını arayamayan çocuklar, deneyimlerini ifade etmekte önemli sorunlarla karşılaşmaktadır. Bu hususlar karşısında etnik köken, engellilik, yaş, doğum ve din, dil gibi diğer temellere dayalı ayrımcılık nedeniyle hakları ihlal edilen bir çocuğun haklarını arayabilmesini sağlamak, ihlalin yol açtığı zararı tazmin etmek ve benzer ihlallerin tekrarlanmasını önlemek için devletlere büyük sorumluluk düşmektedir.

Keywords

• Ayrımcılık
• Çocuk Hakları
• Çocuklara Yönelik Ayrımcılık
• AİHM’nin Önemli Kararları
• ABD Yüksek Mahkemesi’nin Önemli Kararları

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