There is little awareness within the Central, state and local governments or within Indian society, that India is a signatory to several international child rights and protection treaties, which are practised more in the breach than observance. They include:

United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000). Signed by 189 heads of state, the United Nations Millennium Declaration sets out eight millennium goals to be achieved by all signatory nations by 2015 — eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality rates; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and developing a global partnership for development.

International Programme on Elimination of Child Labour (1992). The International Labour Organisation’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) was launched in 1992 with the goal of abolishing child labour. India was the first country to sign IPEC in 1992.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 20, 1989, India ratified this convention in 1993 following intense pressure from NGOs and other child rights organisations. An amalgamation of several legal systems and cultural traditions, CRC is a universally agreed set of non-negotiable standards and obligations all 193 signatory nations must respect and discharge. It spells out the basic human rights of children which governments are obliged to uphold: the right to survival; full development; protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and full participation in family, cultural and social life. The convention also spells out minimum standards in healthcare, education, legal, civil and social services.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966). ICESCR commits signatory nations to work towards realising of economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR) of individuals, and the right to health, education (free universal primary education, generally available secondary education and equally accessible higher education), and the right to adequate standards of living.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). Ratified by 48 countries, UNDHR is a 30-point declaration stipulating human rights, including children’s rights. Some of them include: right to life and to live in freedom and safety; right to be treated equally by the law; right to an adequate standard of living and medical help;  right to schooling; right to equality despite differences in skin colour, sex, religion, language.