The ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly Article 12 on children's right to participate in matters affecting them, provides a rationale for including the voices of young children when seeking to better understand their lives. Early childhood educators collaborate and converse with young children in their daily…

This article highlights the lack of human rights recognition for arguably one of the most vulnerable groups in our society, children and young people in the care of the state. Currently under New Zealand legislation and policy frameworks these children do not have their rights upheld, as per New Zealand's obligations under the United Nations…

Recent social policy discourses in Aotearoa New Zealand focus on vulnerable children's well-being and the detrimental, long-term and costly impacts of child poverty. The discourse pervading much of the policy labels children and young people as "vulnerable" or "at risk" or "in crisis", a view, which we argue, is both…

Discusses the state of children's rights in the United States in the wake of U.S. Senate refusal to ratify the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. Examines the discrepancy between the U.S. leadership role in human rights and child advocacy and the legal system's treatment of children strictly according to law. (JPB)

This directory describes the research and documentation activities in the field of children's rights for 182 institutions based in 30 European countries. It is directed toward researchers and practitioners to stimulate international communication and comparative research projects and facilitate international information sharing. The directory is…

The right to birth registration, the official recording of the birth of a child by some administrative level of the state as a permanent and official record of a child's existence, is enshrined in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child. This digest examines birth registration, a right that opens the door to other rights, including…

Discusses the role and definition of children's rights since the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Suggests ways to build upon the Convention by concentrating on: neglected groups of children, including disabled, gay, minority, and girl children; reforming the rights of children; and strengthening the implementation…

A growing international consensus exists that societies have an obligation to promote and protect children's rights to survival, protection, participation, and development. These three essays consider UNICEF's role in implementing the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. "The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child:…

This book explores the concept of advocacy in British society with regard to children and young people, examining advocacy from a number of different perspectives, and taking into account the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and legislation that affects children and young people. The three parts of the book examine why young people need an…

In 1981, the Norwegian parliament established an Ombudsman for Children to promote children's interests. This book describes the ombudsman's efforts to serve children, both in the past and the present, in 6 chapters. In Chapter One, a brief history of changes in families, children and society in Norway in the twentieth century is followed by…

Since the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, nations are obligated to submit regular reports to the international Expert Committee, which will require monitoring conditions for children. This study discusses the Norwegian Ombudsman for Children as a useful source of experience for other countries. Chapter 1 presents those…

A number of research seminars were organized to clarify the fundamental principles underlying local, regional, and international efforts to establish a structure for monitoring and promoting children's rights. This book contains papers presented at these seminars by experts on child advocacy, promotion of children's interests by children, and…

Discusses the effects of war on children, the exploitation of children worldwide, and the current efforts of the United Nations to protect them. Suggests several classroom activities and an exercise based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to encourage student awareness. (DMM)

Presents the text of a lecture that looks at the declaratory, procedural, and monitoring features of a Children Act that would encompass lessons from the past to enhance the future of Scottish children. Also discusses four major questions at the heart of child-centered legislation. (TJQ)

Children's ombudsmen's work in other countries suggests that a strong, independent, government child advocacy agency can provide an important alternative to overloaded courts and social service agencies. Ombudsmen's programs located within each state government are seen as essential to providing timely, realistic protection for children. (ET)