Children in Our Charge: The Child's Right to Resources (Children in Charge) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1853023698 ISBN 13: 9781853023699

Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1996

Synopsis

This second book in this new series concentrates on the theme of providing for children in child-centred ways. It includes the philosophical background to thinking about children's rights vis-a-vis society's responsibilities and examines the effectiveness and dilemmas associated with the concept of the 'Best Interest of the Child'. Article three of the Convention of the Right of the Child states that all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare organisations, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, must hold the best interests of the child as the primary consideration. Rarely, however, does a child have a say in what those interests are.

This volume redresses the balance and looks at provision and redistribution of resources as far as possible from the child's perspective. It looks at children in very disadvantaged circumstances such as in Romania but also at some of the issues arising from developments in the `developed' world. In addition to established areas this volume looks at two new issues as they concern the rights of the young: the possibilities of the information super highway and the rights of children born as a result of reproductive technologies.

About this title

About the Author:

Mary John is a developmental psychologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Exeter. She has worked in the field of disability rehabilitation and independent living and has researched with minority rights groups.

Review:

Reviewed with Children in Charge 1

'Mary John's commitment to involving young people in the conference proceedings is to be welcomed and applauded. A goldmine of empirical studies of policy and practice targeted at the improvement of children's lives by increasing their rights entitlements... An extensive range of issues embracing education, health, divorce, play, new technology, physical and sexual abuse and even reproductive technology are discussed thoughtfully and analysed intelligently for their implications for children's rights. John has also avoided the trap of a narrow eurocentrism... The development of social policy in Uruguay, the children's parliament in Slovenia, the implementation of the UN Convention in Kenya and children's right to play in Peru offer more global arenas for the discussion of rights.

Author: British Journal of Educational Psychology

These are two remarkable volumes which deserve wide readership. The experience of childhood is dealt with honestly and with deep integrity and respect and dignity. The second volume 'The Child's Right to Resources' provides a conceptual framework for the whole area of children's welfare and rights... I cannot commend these two volumes highly enough for the quality of insights, the willingness to provoke, the challenge to us to think of children internationally and above all the clear commitment to allowing the authentic voices of children to be heard. Author: The International Journal of Children's Spirituality

About this edition

• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1853023698
• ISBN 13: 9781853023699
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256
• Editor: John Mary