Understanding children's human rights

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Six week evening course - CPD accredited

7 June - 12 July 2010

This practically-focussed course, consisting of six two-hour seminars on Monday evenings (and an additional study seminar), places international human rights law as it affects children in perspective.

It is two decades 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 as it relates to children and young people. To assist busy professionals in how to use human rights effectively, and be able to realise its potential, the LSE’s Centre for the Study of Human Rights has devised an innovative short course, 'Understanding Children’s Human Rights'. Improved and updated, this is the course's second run.

At the end of the course participants will have comprehensive information on the international framework to guarantee the rights of the child and also on how to use and apply this in a domestic setting. Participants will be aware of how human rights law must inform law, policy and practice as it affects children, but as importantly the course will indicate how future developments need to take into account child rights. A certificate of attendance from the Centre for the Study of Human Rights at LSE will be awarded to all those who have successfully completed the course.

Course components:

• The International human rights framework and how it relates to children;
• The development of international child law, its implementation mechanisms, and the definition of the ‘child’;
• Litigating children’s rights using international and regional courts and tribunals;
• The right to education: international standards and domestic practice, in a socio-economic rights context;
• Juvenile justice: the administration of juvenile justice and conditions of detention;
• Participation of the child and UK implementation of participation rights.

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 an in-depth analysis of substantive and topical issues of child law and policy;
• provides access to leading child law and human rights practitioners and academics
   

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.

Teachers

The course will be taught by distinguished academics and leading practitioners in the field of child law, child policy or human rights law. They are Kate Akester, Jonathan Cooper, Deirdre Fottrell Professor Neville Harris and Dr Jenny Kuper (pictured).

The course convener is Madeleine Colvin, a human rights lawyer who practised as a barrister before joining Liberty and later JUSTICE as a legal policy specialist. She is presently a human rights consultant and a part-time Immigration Judge.
 

Fees and administration

The course fee is £990.

The Centre is able to offer up to eight subsidised places, five partially funded (half price) and up to three fully funded places for those would otherwise be unable to attend. Subsidised places will be awarded on the basis of merit and financial need. Fully funded places are intended for those working in non-governmental or voluntary sector organisations who are able to demonstrate a clear benefit to that organisation beyond their personal education and professional development.

The Centre is regrettably unable to offer any financial or practical support in relation to travel and accommodation.

More information about the course (PDF)

Registration form (MS Word) - do not complete this form if applying for a subsidised place.

Subsidised place application form (MS Word)

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