AP/HREQ 3961 3.00
International Human Rights and Children
This course uses a critical human rights approach to explore economic, social, and structural powers that allow violence against children. Topics include the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other legislation for children, UN children organizations, and the role of civil society and government.
The course will focus on the globalization of ‘the human rights of children’ and assess how ideologies and institutions have responded to the challenges of social justice. What constrains the international human rights of children? What roles are played by international (United Nations) and regional (American, European and African) human rights organizations in advancing children human rights? How are human rights translated locally? Are the human rights of children universal concepts or simply constructs of Western culture? To what extent can or should issues of national security restrict human rights The course provides both an in-depth overview of the philosophy, principles and instruments of international human rights of children. Certain categories of rights and their attendant problems will be considered such as the tension between international human rights and humanitarian law. This course provides a critical reading of children as a site of inquiry within comparative and historical contexts of political economy, cultural reproductions and hegemonic state and corporate practices. This course will incorporate a critical human rights approach to explore economic, social, and structural powers that violate rights of children. Further, topics will include the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other legislation, children organizations, and the role of civil society and government.
Prerequisite: 24 credits.