NCJ Number
161805
Editor(s)
M Freeman
Date Published
1996
Length
256 pages
Annotation
This book examines the content of child-rights and child- protection laws in 11 countries that have either signed or participated in the framing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and it compares these laws and practices with the Convention's mandates.
Abstract
Chapters addresses the status of children's rights in each of the following countries: Argentina, Canada, Denmark, England, Holland, Japan, Mozambique, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, and Switzerland. The standards against which the status of children's rights are measured in each country are found in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was finalized in 1989. States that signed the Convention committed themselves to implement all the rights mandated in the Convention. The Convention contains general rights, rights that require protective measures, rights concerning the civil status of children, rights concerned with development and welfare, and rights concerning children in special circumstances. The chapters of this book show that each of the countries surveyed has its own problems in complying with the Convention. Many states ratified the Convention without giving serious thought to their own laws and practices, as well as the changes and resources required to comply with the Convention. Even where substantive provisions have been changed to promote children's interests, the procedures in operation may fall short of Convention ideals. Several contributors, including Canada, Argentina, Denmark, and New Zealand, indicate obstacles that impede the presentation of a child's viewpoint, thereby failing to meet the ideals of Article 12 of the Convention. Overall, the chapters provide insight into the progress being made in children's rights throughout the world, as well as the goals yet to be achieved. For individual chapters, see NCJ-161806-15. Chapter notes, a subject index, and an index of Articles of the Convention