Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Rights of Children: Tensions Between Protection and Participation

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
The Palgrave Handbook of Positive Peace

  • 1586 Accesses

Abstract

Children’s rights – civil, political, economic, social and cultural – are enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989). The 40 Articles of the Convention set out children’s universal rights to provision (for their survival and development); to protection (from harm and discrimination); and their rights to participate in the public realm (to, as citizens, “express their ideas freely and to be heard in all matters affecting [them]”). UNCRC represents a move from earlier international iterations of children’s rights, which were largely tied to social norms and based on children’s position in particular societies. It recognizes children as holders of universal rights – and in many instances, as capable of holding and exercising these rights without adult oversight. In this chapter we present examples of children’s “lived citizenship” exercising their rights to participation in the public realm and explore tensions which can arise between children’s rights to protection and their rights to participation. We conclude that focusing solely on rights misses much that is significant in children’s lived citizenship, including its potential to increase individual and societal well-being.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 599.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alderson, P. (2013). Childhoods real and imagined. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Auckland Council. (2017). I am Auckland. (updated 2017). Auckland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, P., & Witten, K. (2017). Children as urban design consultants: A children’s audit of a central city square in Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand. In K. Bishop & L. Corkery (Eds.), Designing cities with children and young people: Beyond playgrounds and skate parks (pp. 105–119). Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, P., Witten, K., Asiasiga, L., & Lin, E.-Y. (2019). Children’s engagement as urban researchers and consultants in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Can it increase children’s effective participation in urban planning? Children & Society, published online 15 January. https://doi.org/10.1111/chso.12315.

  • Carroll, P., Witten, K., Kearns, R., & Donovan, P. (2015). Kids in the city: Children’s use and experiences of urban neighbourhoods in Auckland, New Zealand. Journal of Urban Design, 20(4), 417–436. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2015.1044504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, P., Witten, K., & Stewart, C. (2017). Children are citizens too: Consulting with children on the redevelopment of a central city square in Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand. Built Environment, 43(2), 272–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casas, F., Gonzalez, M., Navarro, D., & Aligue, M. (2013). Children as advisers of their researchers: Assuming a different status for children. Child Indicators Research, 6, 193–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cele, S., & van der Burgt, D. (2015). Participation, consultation, confusion: Professionals’ understandings of children’s participation in physical planning. Children’s Geographies, 13(1), 14–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chae-Young, K. (2017). Participation or pedagogy? Ambiguities and tensions surrounding the facilitation of children as researchers. Childhood, 24, 84–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, P. (2004). Children’s participation in ethnographic research: Issues of power and representation. Children and Society, 18(2), 165–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, P., & James, A. (2000). Introduction: Researching children and childhood: Cultures of communication. In P. Christensen & A. James (Eds.), Research with children: Perspectives and practices (pp. 1–8). London: Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, P., & Prout, A. (2002). Working with ethical symmetry in social research with children. Childhood, 9(4), 477–497.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corsi, M. (2002). The child friendly cities initiative in Italy. Environment & Urbanization, 14(2), 169–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuevas-Parra, P., & Tisdall, E. (2019). Child-led research: Questioning knowledge. Social Sciences, 8(2), 44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delgardo, M. (2006). Designs and methods for youth-led research. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derr, V., & Tarantini, E. (2016). “Because we are all people”: Outcomes and reflections from young people’s participation in the planning and design of child-friendly public spaces. Local Environment, 21(12), 1534–1566.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fincher, R., & Iveson, K. (2008). Planning and diversity in the city. Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank, K. (2006). The potential of youth participation in planning. Journal of Planning Literature, 20(4), 351–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, C., Nairn, K., & Sligo, J. (2003). ‘Professionalising’ participation: From rhetoric to practice. Children’s Geographies, 1(1), 53–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, C., & Tranter, P. (2011). Children and their urban environment: Changing worlds. London: Earthscan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, A., & Fitzgerald, R. (2010). Children’s participation in research: Some possibilities and constraints in the current Australian research environment. Journal of Sociology, 46, 133–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greene, S., & Hill, M. (2005). Researching children’s experience: Methods and methodological issues. In S. Greene & D. Hogan (Eds.), Researching children’s experience: Approaches and methods (pp. 1–21). London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayward, B. (2012). Children, citizenship and environment: Nuturing a democratic imagination in a changing world. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • ILO. (2017). Global estimates of child labour: Results and trends, 2012–2016. Geneva: International Labour Organization. Accessed 20 June 2018. [International Labour Organization]. Retrieved from http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@dgreports/@dcomm/documents/publication/wcms_575541.pdf. Accessed 19 July 2019.

  • James, A. (2011). To be (come) or not to be (come): Understanding children’s citizenship. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 633(1), 167–179. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716210383642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jans, M. (2004). Children as citizens: Towards a contemporary notion of child participation. Childhood, 11(1), 27–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, A. (2004). Involving children and young people as researchers. In S. Fraser, V. Lewis, S. Ding, M. Kellett, & C. Robinson (Eds.), Doing research with children and young people. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellett, M. (2005). How to develop children as researchers. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellett, M. (2010). Rethinking children and research: Attitudes in contemporary society. London: Continuum International Publishing Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellett, M. (2014). Images of childhood and their influence on research. In A. Clark, R. Flewitt, M. Hammersley, & M. Robb (Eds.), Understanding research with children and young people (pp. 15–33). Los Angeles: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellett, M., Forrest, R., Dent, N., & Ward, S. (2004). ‘Just teach us the skills please, we’ll do the rest’: Empowering ten-year-olds as active researchers. Children and Society, 18, 329–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kesby, M. (2005). Retheorizing empowerment-through-participation as a performance in space: Beyond tyranny to transformation. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 30(4), 2037–2065.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lansdown, G. (2010). The realization of children’s participation rights: Critical reflections. In B. Percy- Smith & N. Thomas (Eds.), A handbook of children and young people’s participation: Perspectives from theory and practice. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laville, S., Taylor, M., & Hurst, D. (2019, March 15). ‘It’s our time to rise up’: Youth climate strikes held in 100 countries. The Guardian. Retrieved July 22, 2019 from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/15/its-our-time-to-rise-up-youth-climate-strikes-held-in-100-countries

  • Liebel, M. (2008). Welfare or agency? Children’s interests as foundation of children’s rights. International Journal of Children’s Rights, 26(4), 597–625.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lister, R. (2007). Why citizenship: Where, when and how children? Theoretical Inquiries in Law, 8(2), 693–718. https://doi.org/10.2202/1565-3404.1165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malone, K. (2013). “The future lies in our hands”: Children as researchers and environmental change agents in designing a child-friendly neighbourhood. International Journal of Justice and Sustainability, 18(3), 372–395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malone, K. (2015). Children’s rights and the crisis of rapid urbanisation: Exploring the United Nations post 2015 Sustainable Development Agenda and the potential role for UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative. The International Journal of Children’s Rights, 23(2), 405–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, J. (2005). Particpation: Count me in! Involving children and young people in research. Surry Hills: NSW Commission for Children and Young People.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, J., & Bolzan, N. (2009). Questioning understandings of children’s participation: Applying a cross-cultural lens. In B. Percy-Smith & N. Thomas (Eds.), A handbook of children and young people’s participation: Perspectives from theory and practice (pp. 125–132). Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayall, B. (2008). Conversations with children: Working with generational issues. In P. Christensen & A. James (Eds.), Research with children: Perspectives and practices (2nd ed., pp. 109–123). London: Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michail, S., & Kellett, M. (2013). Child-led research in the context of Australian social welfare practice. Child Family & Social Work, 20(4), 387–395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Social Development. (2002). New Zealand’s agenda for children summary report: Making life better for children. Wellington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Youth Affairs. (2002). Youth development strategy Aoteoroa: Action for child and youth development. Wellington: Ministry of Youth Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moosa-Mitha, M. (2005). A difference-centred alternative to theorization of children’s citizenship rights. Citizenship Studies, 9(4), 369–388. https://doi.org/10.1080/13621020500211354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newall, S., & Graham, A. (2012). Child-led research: A pilot of the today and tomorrow research programme. North Parramatta: UnitingCare Burnside.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niall, T. (2019, June 11). Auckland Council declares climate change emergency. Stuff. Retrieved July 22, 2019 from https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/113274464/auckland-council-mulls-declaring-climate-change-emergency

  • NSW Commission for Children and Young People. (2009). Built 4 kids. Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peleg, N. (2018). Illusion of inclusion: Challenging universalistic conceptions in international children’s rights law. Australian Journal of Human Rights, 24(3), 326–344. https://doi.org/10.1080/1323238X.2018.1542924

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Percy-Smith, B. (2006). From consultation to social learning in community participation with young people. Children, Youth and Environments, 16(2), 153–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Percy-Smith, B. (2010). Councils, consultations and community: Rethinking the spaces for children and young people’s participation. Children’s Geographies, 8(3), 107–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Percy-Smith, B., & Burns, D. (2013). Exploring the role of children and young people as agents of change in sustainable community development. Local Environment, 18(3), 323–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petry Veronese, J. R., & Mendes Muniz Falcão, W. H. (2019). Can the child speak? Possibilities of direct communication with the UN committee on the rights of the child. Anuario Mexicano de Derecho Internacional, 19, 211–234. https://doi.org/10.22201/iij.24487872e.2019.19.13323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roth, C. (2019, February 22). Swedish student leader wins EU pledge to spend billions on climate. Reuters. Retrieved Jully 22, 2019 from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-teen-activist/swedish-student-leader-wins-eu-pledge-to-spend-billions-on-climate-idUSKCN1QA1RF

  • Shier, H. (2001). Pathways to participation: Openings, opportunities and obligations. Children & Society, 15(2), 107–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shier, H. (2015). Children as researchers in Nicaragua: Children’s consultancy to transformative research. Global Studies of Childhood, 5(2), 206–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, B. (1997). Towards the participation of children and young people in urban planning and design. Urban Studies, 34(5/6), 907–925.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, N., & Percy-Smith, B. (2010). Introduction. In N. Thomas & B. Percy- Smith (Eds.), A handbook of children and young people’s participation: Perspectives from theory and practice. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tisdall, E. (2008). Is the honeymoon over? Children and young people’s participation in public decision-making. International Journal of Children’s Rights, 16, 419–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tisdall, E., & Bell, R. (2006). Included in governance? Children’s participation in ‘public’ decision making. In E. Tisdall, J. Davis, M. Hill, & A. Prout (Eds.), Children, young people and social inclusion: Participation for what? (pp. 103–119). Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNICEF. (2004). Building child friendly cities: A framework for action. https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/416-building-child-friendly-cities-a-framework-for-action.html. 21 May 2018.

  • United Nations. (1989). Convention on the rights of the child. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/sites/default/files/2019-04/UN-Convention-Rights-Child-text.pdf. Accessed 19 July 2019.

  • Uprichard, E. (2008). Children as ‘being and becomings’: Children, childhood and temporality. Children & Society, 22, 303–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilks, J., & Rudner, J. (2013). A voice for children and young people in the city. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 29(1), 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yardley, A. (2014). Children describing the world: Mixed-method research by child practitioners developing an intergenerational dialogue. Educational & Child Psychology, 31(1), 48–62.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SHORE, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand

    Penelope Carroll

Authors
  1. Penelope Carroll
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Penelope Carroll .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Katerina Standish

  2. National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Heather Devere

  3. National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Adan Suazo

  4. Department of Criminology and Social Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, UK

    Rachel Rafferty

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Carroll, P. (2022). The Rights of Children: Tensions Between Protection and Participation. In: Standish, K., Devere, H., Suazo, A., Rafferty, R. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Positive Peace. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0969-5_29

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation