看見兒童的弱勢處境：談兒童的人權缺乏與《兒童權利公約》之重要性

Seeing Children's Disadvantaged Positions: Discussion On the Lack of Children’s Human Rights and the Importance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

臺灣近年的「厭童」和「兒童歧視」現象普遍，以成人為中心的視角，否定或忽視兒童的弱勢處境和特殊需求，使兒童在社會中越來越受到邊緣化。
本文之目的，在透過馬歇爾的「公民身分」概念，對兒童（未滿18歲者）在人權所受到的限制和不完整，進行概念論證，以梳理兒童的弱勢處境，並說明實施《兒童權利公約》，對改善兒童人權和弱勢處境之重要性。最後，本文提出當前臺灣推動兒童權利的主要障礙。
本文借用馬歇爾的「公民身分」概念中，三個面向的基本人權（公民權、政治權和社會權），論述兒童因缺乏多項人權，使其「公民身分」不完整，因此造成兒童在法律和社會結構上的弱勢處境和社會排除，並探討過去政策背後所反映的國家和兒童的間接關係，對兒童造成的風險。
接著，本文從《兒童權利公約》的實施，探討《兒童權利公約》對於兒童權利之保障，如何改善兒童在「公民身分」權利不完整的弱勢處境，包括提升兒童的公民權、社會權，並透過《兒童權利公約》第12條，使兒童在缺乏政治權的狀況下，補充其表達受聆聽權，使兒童能參與在公共政策的制定和改善過程中，對兒童處境和兒童相關政策，帶來重要的改變；此外，《兒童權利公約》的實施，也重新建立國家和兒童之間的直接責任關係。
最後，本文提出臺灣推動兒童權利的兩項主要障礙――成人的兒童權利意識不足，和制度上缺乏監督和支持機制――是當前臺灣社會需要努力突破的議題。

In recent years, the phenomena of misopedia and“child discrimination”have become increasingly prevalent in Taiwan. From an adult-centric perspective, children’s vulnerable circumstances and specific needs are often denied or overlooked, leading to their progressive marginalization within society.
This article draws on T.H. Marshall’s concept of“citizenship”to develop a conceptual argument concerning the limitations and incompleteness of the human rights of children (defined as individuals under the age of 18). In doing so, it seeks to clarify the nature of children’s disadvantaged position. It further explains the importance of implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in improving both children’s human rights and their disadvantaged conditions, and finally identifies the major obstacles to the promotion of children’s rights in contemporary Taiwan.
Drawing on Marshall’s three dimensions of citizenship—civil rights, political rights, and social rights—this article argues that children’s lack of multiple rights results in an incomplete form of citizenship.　This incompleteness, in turn, produces their disadvantaged position within legal and social structures and contributes to their social exclusion. The article also examines the indirect relationship between the state and the child reflected in past policy approaches, as well as the inherent risks such indirect arrangements pose to children.
The article then explores how the implementation of the CRC addresses the disadvantages associated with children’s incomplete citizenship by strengthening their civil and social rights. In particular, Article 12 of the CRC, which guarantees children’s right to be heard, functions as a compensatory mechanism in the absence of full political rights, enabling children to participate in the formulation and reform of public policy. Such participation can bring about meaningful improvements in both children’s lived conditions and child-related policies. Furthermore, the implementation of the CRC contributes to re-establishing a direct relationship of responsibility between the state and children.
Finally, the article identifies two major obstacles to the promotion of children’s rights in Taiwan: the insufficient awareness of children’s rights among adults and the lack of institutional oversight and support mechanisms. These remain critical challenges that Taiwanese society must strive to overcome.