Do children under 18 have freedom of religion?
Children also have the right to freedom of religion or belief, and that must be protected.
the law also says that children can choose their own religious beliefs and practices, or refuse to participate in the religion of their parents when they are mature enough to do so.
In line with the CRC's recognition of evolving capacities, children should be able to choose to follow or leave their religion or belief as and when they decide. In addition, children should never be compelled to attend religious schools or religious education classes.
Religious, or Spiritual, inclinations and practices date back to prehistoric times, before the invention of writing by the ancient Sumerians in around 3500 to 3000 BCE (Before Common Era).
If parents want to raise children who meaningfully practice their religion, the children must accept the faith themselves. Faith is not something that should be forced on anyone.
Our Indian Constitution also states that a person has the freedom to profess, practice and propagate any religion. As such, there is no legal procedure to convert the religion but the conversion must be notified in the Govt. Gazette so that it can be easily affected in all other legal documents.
Article 14 of the UNCRC says that children and young people are free to be of any or no religion. Their parents can help them make decisions around religion, but: a parent can't force a child or young person to adopt a religion, and. a parent can't force a child or young person to stop following a religion.
Hinduism is the world's oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Today, with about 900 million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity and Islam.
The freedom of religion allows every person to have the religion or the conviction of their choice and to show it freely. It is the right not to undergo constraint and oppression which would injure their freedom of religion or other rights.
The Supreme Court ruled in 1969 that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." This is true for other fundamental rights, as well.
Does freedom of speech apply to people under 18?
Court has long recognized that minors enjoy some degree of First Amendment protection. Students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate” (Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District 1969).
Children as well as adults have human rights.
The specific rights of children are laid out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
References
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