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Governance and child rights

The Governance and Child Rights research seeks to understand how the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is implemented through governmental structures and processes for the equitable realization of children's rights, while also informing broader debates including equity policies, public sector reform, good governance and aid effectiveness.

The research builds on a long pedigree of work by the Office of Research in advancing knowledge on children’s rights and the implementation of the CRC. Over the years, studies have focused on specific child rights concepts and on the General Measures of Implementation of the CRC, as detailed in General Comment No. 5, such as legislative and institutional reform and independent human rights institutions for children (Ombudspersons). However, despite significant progress made since the adoption of the CRC, there remains a gap between legal and policy provisions and their impact on the ground.

Effective implementation of the CRC relies on existing governance systems, but thus far, governance and child rights experts have barely interacted. To bridge this gap, a Roundtable was held in April 2011 in London, and reached the conclusion that governance and child rights are based on common principles and are thus mutually reinforcing.

The governance and child rights research agenda uses the governance framework to inform more effective policy-making for children. Specifically it aims to:

- Assess the effectiveness of governmental structures and processes in fulfilling the rights of children, especially those who are marginalized and excluded, in order to promote equitable policies and social inclusion;

- Offer guidance to governments in setting up children’s machineries and equipping relevant actors (the CRC Committee, UNICEF and other UN agencies, regional organizations, NGOs, and bilateral donors) with data and information to support the functioning of such machineries;

- Develop an approach and research methodology that can be used and replicated at the national level to assess the effectiveness of government machineries for children.

Taking forward the Roundtable conclusions, a study on public sector reform is being carried out jointly by the Office of Research and the Human Rights Cluster of the Programme Division at UNICEF’s Headquarters in New York. The research builds on the extensive experience and complementary approaches of UNICEF in support of CRC implementation through research, policy analysis and programmatic guidance.

Related past projects undertaken at the Office of Research include papers on children’s participation, and the Child-friendly Cities Initiative.

Public Sector Reform for Children: Governmental structures and processes


Initiated in September 2011, the project spearheads a broader research agenda on child rights and governance. A focus on the public sector reflects the recognition that as states are signatories to the CRC, they are primary duty-bearers for realization of children’s rights. At the same time, the objective is to move beyond identifying governmental structures by examining the processes and dynamics which determine the outcome.

Within this framework, an expert consultation was held on 22-23 November 2011 in Florence with academics and practitioners on child rights and/or public sector. The consultation identified policy coordination as an area of public sector management particularly pertinent to the realization of children’s rights, which span multiple sectors and require the involvement of multiple actors at different levels.

Through an empirical analysis of coordination, the study aims to account for other dimensions of policy processes, such as decision-making, power relations, the process of monitoring and assessment, and the drivers for effective co-ordinating institutions by:
- identifying where and how in the implementation process the centrally defined policy is reinterpreted;
- addressing the problematic issue of ascertaining causal relationships;
- identifying the impact (or lack thereof) of policies on the most marginalized children;
- assessing the overall effectiveness of co-ordinating institutions to fulfil their mandates.

The research is carried out jointly by the Office of Research and the Human Rights Cluster of the Programme Division at UNICEF’s Headquarters in New York.

Publications

Innocenti Adolescence Research Digest 3
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Innocenti Adolescence Research Digest 3

This quarterly digest synthesizes the latest research findings in adolescent well-being over the previous three months. Key themes in this latest edition include gender socialization and youth-led social change, and includes impressive examples of adolescents coming together to challenge predominant norms and assumptions around gender identities. The sections cover News, Upcoming Events, Resources and Latest Research to help practitioners keep informed and up-to-date in the field of working with young people.
Governance and the Rights of Children: Policy, implementation and monitoring
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Governance and the Rights of Children: Policy, implementation and monitoring

This paper explores some of the factors which impede and promote public sector responsibilities towards children. The purpose of this analysis is to seek methods of assessing the performance of governments in their roles as protectors of the rights of children according to their international commitments.
Law Reform and the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
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Law Reform and the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

The study reviews the legislation concerning the rights of children adopted by 52 States parties since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. With the goal of providing an overview of the scope and content of new legislation adopted since 1989, the report covers 18 of the general principles and rights contained in the Convention. Three subjects that deserve further investigation are identified: the process of law reform, its place as part of a broad child rights strategy, and the actual impact of legislation of this kind on children.
The Evolving Capacities of the Child
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The Evolving Capacities of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of the Child introduces for the first time in an international human rights treaty, the concept of the ‘evolving capacities’ of the child. This principle has been described as a new principle of interpretation in international law, recognising that, as children acquire enhanced competencies, there is a diminishing need for protection and a greater capacity to take responsibility for decisions affecting their lives. Action is needed in law, policy and practice so that the contributions children make and the capacities they hold are acknowledged.
Promouvoir la participation des enfants au processus decisionnel democratique
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Promouvoir la participation des enfants au processus decisionnel democratique

Dans cet Insight Innocenti, Gerison Lansdown examine l’article 12 de la Convention relative aux droits de l’enfant, selon lequel les enfants ont le droit de participer aux décisions qui les concernent. Lansdown se livre à une étude approfondie de la signification de cet article en tant qu’instrument au service des enfants pour protester contre les violations de leurs droits et agir pour défendre ces droits.
Promoting Children's Participation in Democratic Decision-Making
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Promoting Children's Participation in Democratic Decision-Making

This Insight makes a strong case for listening to children, outlining the implications of failing to do so and challenging many of the arguments that have been levelled against child participation. It is, above all, a practical guide to this issue, with clear checklists for child participation in conferences and many concrete examples of recent initiatives.
Children's Participation: From tokenism to citizenship
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Children's Participation: From tokenism to citizenship

A nation is democratic to the extent that its citizens are involved, particularly at the community level. The confidence and competence to be involved must be gradually acquired through practice. It is for this reason that there should be gradually increasing opportunities for children to participate in any aspiring democracy, and particularly in those nations already convinced that they are democratic. With the growth of children’s rights we are beginning to see an increasing recognition of children’s abilities to speak for themselves. Regrettably, while children’s and youths’ participation does occur in different degrees around the world, it is often exploitative or frivolous.
Ombudswork for Children
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Ombudswork for Children

The first Innocenti Digest provides information on the recent and expanding phenomenon of ombudsmen/commissioners for children. It discusses the history of ombudswork and different patterns in the origin, development, mandate and status of the different types of ombudsman offices.