Centre for the Study of Human Rights, The London School of Economics and Political Science
Course on 'Understanding Children's Human Rights'
10 - 11 April 2014
Deadline for application: 6 March 2014 (applications for a subsidized place), 8 March 2014 (for a 10% discount)

This practically-focussed two day course places in perspective international human rights law as it affects children. At the end of the two days participants will have comprehensive information on the international framework to guarantee the rights of the child.

It is nearly twenty-five years since the groundbreaking UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) came into force, resulting in an exponential growth in child-related law and policy, both on the international and domestic levels.

International human rights law now informs all elements of UK strategy and policy as it relates to children. Childcare professionals, including lawyers and those directly working with and for children must therefore understand and be able to apply the international human rights law framework relating to children and young people.

Participants will become more aware of how human rights law must inform law, policy and practice as it affects children, but as importantly the course will illustrate the need for future developments need to take child rights into account.

Course components
• The International human rights framework and how it relates to children.
• The evolution of international child law, its framework and implementation mechanisms, and the definition of the 'child'.
• Development issues including child poverty, child labour, trafficking and education.
• Litigating children’s rights using International, regional and domestic courts and tribunals.
• Children in conflict and post-conflict situations, including migration and asylum.
• Participation of the child in international, national and domestic life.

Why take this course?
• delivers comprehensive information on the international framework to guarantee the rights of the child and develops the capacity to use and apply this in a domestic setting.
• provides a unique opportunity to move beyond specialised areas of child-related expertise to an overview of 'child rights' within the broader international human rights framework.
• offers insight and guidance on various approaches to child-related advocacy which can be applied in practice.
• provides a forum for discussing some of the complexities inherent in the notion of 'children's rights'.
• offers a broad analysis of substantive and topical issues of child law and policy.
•provides access to leading child law and human rights practitioners.

Who should take this course?
The course is designed for professional participants involved in either developing policy and practice in relation to children, or working in child rights and child protection. Lawyers working in child law will be able to use the course to update and develop their knowledge in this crucial area of their work. Equally the course will be highly beneficial for those who campaign for children's rights and those who are interested in the added value of human rights, and in discussing and analysing these issues.

Detailed information on the teachers, fees and administration can be found here.