While the notion of young people as individuals worthy or capable of having rights is of relatively recent origin, over the past several decades there has been a substantial increase in both social and political commitment to children's rights as well as a tendency to grant young people some of the rights that were typically accorded only to adults. In addition, there has been a noticeable shift in orientation from a focus on children's protection and provision to an emphasis on children's participation and self-determination.

With contributions from a wide range of international scholars, the Handbook of Children's Rights brings together research, theory, and practice from diverse perspectives on children's rights. This volume constitutes a comprehensive treatment of critical perspectives concerning children's rights in their various forms. Its contributions address some of the major scholarly tensions and policy debates comprising the current discourse on children's rights, including the best interests of the child, evolving capacities of the child, states' rights versus children's rights, rights of children versus parental or family rights, children as citizens, children's rights versus children's responsibilities, and balancing protection and participation. In addition to its multidisciplinary focus, the handbook includes perspectives from social science domains in which children's rights scholarship has evolved largely independently due to distinct and seemingly competing assumptions and disciplinary approaches (e.g., childhood studies, developmental psychology, sociology of childhood, anthropology, and political science). The handbook also brings together diverse methodological approaches to the study of children's rights, including both quantitative and qualitative perspectives, and policy analysis.

This comprehensive, cosmopolitan, and timely volume serves as an important reference for both scholarly and policy-driven interest in the voices and perspectives of children and youth.

About the Author

Martin D. Ruck is Professor of Psychology and Urban Education at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Michele Peterson-Badali is Professor of Psychology in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).

Michael Freeman is Professor Emeritus at the University College London Laws and Honorary Research Professor at the Liverpool Law School of the University of Liverpool.

Reviews

'A quarter of a century after the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, this universally endorsed treaty languishes in public policy and professional practice. By giving access to this historic manifesto, the Handbook of Children's Rights shines light on the last frontier of the human rights movement.' - Felton Earls, Professor Emeritus, Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

'Achieving the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires systematic investment in children across two decades of life. This rich volume invites us to put children and adolescents at the center, rather than our academic disciplines, and demonstrates the richness of a cross-sectoral approach to fulfilling child and adolescent rights.' - Judith Diers, Ph.D., Chief, Adolescent Development and Participation, UNICEF

'Human rights are under threat as rarely before in the modern era. This illuminating and wide-ranging volume providing new perspectives on the role, interpretation, and application of children's rights could not be more opportune. As a powerful and passionate case for upholding the commitments made to the world's children, it should be compulsory reading for every head of state.' - Gerison Lansdown, Founder Director of the Children's Rights Alliance for England, Chair of Child to Child

Book Information
ISBN 9781848724792
Author Martin D. Ruck
Format Paperback
Page Count 618
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 1176g