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LWM35

International rights of the child

Module information>

Academic Direction
UCL, Queen Mary University of London
Also part of
LLM Postgraduate Laws
Modes of Study
Online

This course offers a critical examination of children’s rights in an international context, focusing around the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989. It also includes a detailed examination of the theory of children’s rights and provides analysis of how they are transposed into law and legal practice.

Study as an individual course

This course highlights some of the current problems in policies and practices relating to children, searches for a coherent theoretical basis in this area, and applies it to a range of children’s issues.

The aim is for you to develop a more child-centred understanding of children’s rights and child law, and be able to use that understanding and knowledge to engage critically with policies and practices which impact on children’s lives.

Module A: Theoretical issues and children’s rights mechanisms

LWM35A

  • An introduction to children’s rights and constructions of ‘the child’
  • The theoretical basis of children’s rights
  • The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989
  • Regional children’s rights mechanisms
  • Children’s rights in English domestic law

Module B: The core principles of children's rights mechanisms

LWM35B

  • The best interests principle
  • The right to life, survival and development
  • Children’s participation rights (1) – general principles
  • Children’s participation rights (2) – case studies
  • Non-discrimination

Module C: Specific issues in children’s rights (1)

LWM35C

  • The child, the family, and identity
  • Children and the labour market
  • The right to education
  • Children and religion

Module D: Specific issues in children’s rights (2)

LWM35D

  • Child justice
  • Exploitation, sale of children and child pornography
  • Street children
  • Refugee and asylum-seeking children
  • Children and armed conflict

Assessment

Each module will be assessed by a 45-minute unseen written examination.

Sequence

It is strongly recommended you attempt the modules in order.

How to apply

You can apply to study a module individually as a standalone unit or as part of a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Laws qualification.

These modules also contribute towards the following specialist pathways for Laws:

  • Family Law
  • Human Rights Law
  • International Dispute Resolution
  • Law and Development
  • Public International Law

Apply via Postgraduate Laws.

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