Africa Knowledge Hub for Children

Peer-reviewed articleThe International Journal of Children's Rights21 Nov 2019

Rights, Risks and Responsibilities in the Recruitment of Children within the Global Football Industry

This paper examines children’s engagement with the increasingly global and commercialised football industry. By combining a Global Production Network approach and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child it is argued that, for children’s rights and best interests to be better upheld and realised within the football industry, regulatory conditions need to account for geographical contextuality and incorporate scope for children to inform regulatory frameworks and practice. The paper highlights the importance of designing and implementing research that recognises and operationalises children’s agency, which can both inform and influence regulations and practices, better to reflect children’s best interests.

Carolynne Mason, Paul Darby, Eleanor Drywood et al.

GBRead at source

Peer-reviewed articleThe International Journal of Children's Rights21 Jun 2023

Can you Hear me? Problematising the Enactment of uncrc Article 12 in Welsh Early Years Classrooms

Abstract This paper explores teacher enactment of the uncrc Article 12, a child’s right to participate and give their view within the context of Welsh early years settings (children aged three to seven). A rights-based perspective is adopted in which children are positioned as agentic and active meaning makers. Qualitative data was generated via observations, interviews and documentary analysis with data from three teachers presented here. Findings suggest that teachers’ enactment of a participation was complex and shaped by particular constructions of children and associated understandings of teachers’ role. Children’s voice and agency were bounded by place, time and teacher expectations of children. Whilst some practices appeared to limit opportunities for children’s voice, children often subtly took back control from teachers, thus demonstrating children as agentic beings. In order fully to actualise a children’s right agenda within Welsh settings, we call for a reconceptualisation of constructions of children and subsequent constructions of teachers.

Sarah Chicken, Jacky Tyrie

DevelopmentGBRead at source

Peer-reviewed articleThe International Journal of Children's Rights12 Sept 2023

The Protection Paradox

Abstract Child participation is considered crucial for the authorities’ ability to protect children from violence – yet children’s actual participation is limited, and participation and protection rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are often understood as opposites. This article aims to explore children’s rights to participation and protection against violence in Swedish social services’ handling of violence against children. Child welfare reports, investigations and child social records, were analysed using quantitative content analysis and thematic analysis. Insufficient conditions for child participation and poor access to protection and support were indicated. Upon closer analysis of cases that did not lead to protection or support, different aspects of an overarching theme, The Protection Paradox, were identified, which meant protection against participation or unprotected autonomy.

Sara Quarles van Ufford

ProtectionParticipationSERead at source

Peer-reviewed articleThe International Journal of Children's Rights6 Jun 2022

Realisation of Children’s Rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to, in, and through Sexuality Education

Abstract Through the framework of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (uncrc), this paper argues that quality sexuality education is fundamental to the realisation of rights for children and young people, particularly those related to their identity, sexual lives and relationships. Beyond the right to education itself and sexual health, sexuality education supports the realisation of a wide range of children’s rights including wellbeing, protection, participation, identity and equality. The paper argues for the specific ways in which quality sex education supports the realisation of such rights and argues for the universal need for such education to be participative to allow children and young people to make empowered decisions about their sexuality and relationships with others.

Ashling Bourke, Benjamin Mallon, Catherine Maunsell

DevelopmentIERead at source

Peer-reviewed articleThe International Journal of Children's Rights7 Jan 2021

Sexting among Young People: Towards a Gender Sensitive Approach

Abstract Drawing on key theoretical debates on childhood and youth sexuality in tandem with primary data, the article builds upon and advances existing narratives regarding the tensions surrounding gender, pressure and sexting behaviours among young people. Ultimately, the article illustrates a number of gendered pressures which exist when young people engage in sexting, including a prevailing culture of sexism and exposure to a very prevalent sexual double standard. The range and diversity of gendered pressures present thus raises important questions regarding “appropriate” interventions. Consequently, the author argues for a gender sensitive approach at both policy and practice level. In doing so, the article provides new insights on the complexity of gender roles and thus presents a more nuanced understanding of sexting among young people than previous narratives have suggested.

Elizabeth N. Agnew

GBRead at source

Peer-reviewed articleThe International Journal of Children's Rights22 Aug 2022

Establishing the Right to Play as an Economic, a Social and a Cultural Right

Abstract The right to play is a multifaceted right and in its very nature crosses boundaries. Whilst human rights are indivisible, interrelated and interdependent, this article explores unique aspects of economic, social and cultural rights. It examines the ways in which the right to play applies to these categories of rights through looking at the nature and impact of play. The article argues that the right to play should be established and understood as an economic right, a social right and a cultural right, enabling discussion on the right to play to move forward to address its implementation.

Naomi Lott

GBRead at source

Peer-reviewed articleThe International Journal of Children's Rights24 Aug 2020

Children’s Capacities and Role in Matters of Great Significance for Them

Abstract How do decision-makers in the judiciary approach children’s capacities as set out in Article 5 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child? Children in public care who cannot be reunified with their birth parents may be adopted, but are children given agency in these cases that are highly important to the involved children? We examine all judgments on adoptions from care made in Norway in a six-year period (2011-2016) involving children aged 4-17 years old, a total of 169 judgments. These cases are decided after a two- to three-day hearing in the court-like County Board. The results of our analysis are discouraging because many children are absent in the decision-maker’s justification and conclusion about adoption. Young children do not have their capacity assessed, and older children’s capacity undergoes a shallow assessment at best, and typically only their opinion is mentioned. Age is commonly used as a proxy for competency and maturity, and the role children’s opinion plays in the cases as well as in the decision-making is unclear overall. Possible explanations for this situation may be lack of guidelines for how to give children agency, that decision-makers do not have sufficient competency in assessing children’s capabilities, and/or that decision-makers are not aware of their obligations or are not willing to give children agency.

Amy McEwan-Strand, Marit Skivenes

NORead at source

Peer-reviewed articleThe International Journal of Children's Rights10 Mar 2020

Thirty Years of Research on Children’s Rights in the Context of Migration

This article presents a tentative analysis of 30 years of academic research in the field of children’s rights and migration (1989–2019). Much research has addressed the plight of unaccompanied, refugee and asylum-seeking children, trying better to link children’s rights considerations with international refugee law. Many publications address the best interests of the child principle and the right to be heard. Most research focuses on (migration towards) Europe. This has led to an increased visibility and recognition of children’s rights in the context of migration. However, there are still various blind spots in the research reviewed. Most research focuses on some children, but not all (e.g., accompanied children), on some rights, but not all (e.g., economic, social and cultural rights), and on some types of migration, but not all (e.g., economic migration). Moreover, refugee and migrant children tend to be studied as a group, which risks reducing attention for their internal diversity.

Ruth Brittle, Ellen Desmet

GBBERead at source

Peer-reviewed articleThe International Journal of Children's Rights7 Mar 2018

Challenging Competency and Capacity?

Galvanised by the un Convention on the Rights of the Child, many jurisdictions have introduced or strengthened children’s rights to participate in family law proceedings. Yet, the research and legal literature continues to show difficulties in implementation. According to the literature, decisions makers frequently view children as insufficiently competent or lacking in capacity to participate in proceedings or for much weight to be given to the children’s views. This article unpicks the concepts of competence and capacity, both in relevant literature and reported case law from Scotland. The article asks three questions: What are meant by competence and capacity? How are they used? Do the concepts enhance or detract from children’s participation rights? The article finds that competence is often casually used in the literature, alternative terms are used in reported case law (such as maturity), and judging capacity remains problematic in both law and practice. The article concludes that both concepts detract from children’s participation rights, as the concepts suggest competence and capacity are inherent to the child rather than contextual and relational. If the concepts were to be used, they should be subject to more critique and precise definition. However, children’s participation rights are more likely to be furthered by alternatives, such as fresh ideas about recognising and supporting people’s legal capacity within the un Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

E. Kay M. Tisdall

GBRead at source

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Rights, Risks and Responsibilities in the Recruitment of Children within the Global Football Industry

Child and Youth Friendly Justice for the Climate Crisis: Relying on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Can you Hear me? Problematising the Enactment of uncrc Article 12 in Welsh Early Years Classrooms

The Protection Paradox

Realisation of Children’s Rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to, in, and through Sexuality Education

Sexting among Young People: Towards a Gender Sensitive Approach

Establishing the Right to Play as an Economic, a Social and a Cultural Right

Children’s Capacities and Role in Matters of Great Significance for Them

Thirty Years of Research on Children’s Rights in the Context of Migration

Challenging Competency and Capacity?

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