Search

Child labor is defined as the exploitation of children in any form of labor that destructively affects the child's mental, social, and physical health and creates hurdles to obtaining a regular education. This study was conducted to investigate the main socio-economic factors contributing to child labor and barriers to education and analyze the practical implications of child labor laws in Pakistan. The study area in this study is Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, Pakistan. The primary data were collected through an online questionnaire survey from teachers, school administrators, government officials responsible for enforcing child labor laws and educational policies, and representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), while personal observations and interviews were used for the collection of data from child laborers, parents or guardians of child laborers. A total of 80 teachers or education experts, 70 children and their guardians, 30 policymakers, and 20 social workers were participants in the data collection process. The outcomes of this study concluded that about 78% of participants lacked awareness of these laws, while 71% perceived them as ineffective. The socioeconomic factors contributing to child labor are quantitatively assessed, with poverty identified as the primary factor (65%). The statistical analysis indicates that the socioeconomic factors have a significant contribution to the implementation of child education laws in Pakistan (a p-value lower than the level of significance (0.05). Discrimination based on gender or social status, high cost of education, and insufficient qualified teachers are significant barriers to providing quality education for children in Pakistan. This study recommends promoting inclusive education and strengthening social welfare programs to support their efficacy in combating child labor and ensuring access to quality education for all children in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundObjectives/AimsDesignData sourcesMethodsResultsConclusionChildhood is a time when health behaviours are established and the foundations for health literacy are cemented. In Aotearoa New Zealand nurses are responsible for communicating health messages to children at key stages in children’s lives.This review explores the ways in which nurses communicate health messages to children and adolescents in Aotearoa New Zealand. It evaluates whether current approaches to health communication are in-line with a child’s rights-based approach.An integrative review using a systematic literature search strategy.In July 2022, 9 databases were searched including: Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus (Elsevier), Cochrane Library, EBSCO (host), Web of Science Core Collection, CINHIAL plus, psychINFO and PsychEXTRA.Following title and abstract screening 41 articles went through to full-text screening. These were uploaded into NVivo v.12 for analysis. Results were analysed using content analysis with a deductive coding framework informed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. A total of 20 articles met all inclusion criteria and were assessed of high quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.Nurses communicate health messages using a variety of strategies, some of which align with the rights of the child. No evidence was found of nurses communicating health messages through play or creative activities or by adopting principles and practice of continuity of care, including health communication beyond the paediatric context.Opportunities exist for improvements to the rights of children and adolescents within nursing practice. Further research about the rights of children in healthcare services including not only identifying the barriers but research that includes interventions and proposes solutions is necessary . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Interparental Conflict and Children's Inclination to Exercise their Right to be Heard when Parents Separate." The correction states that a coding error was discovered in the dataset, affecting approximately 8% of the individual conflict items. The corrected sample size used in the analysis is N = 407. The correction also mentions that the association between children expressing their views to their parents and triangulation in interparental conflict may be weaker and less certain than initially reported. The document provides specific corrections to the original text regarding sample size, scale reliability, and the interpretation of the association between triangulation and children's agency. The corrigendum clarifies that children who were more often involved in their parents' conflict did not appear to be reluctant to express their views on post-divorce life to their parents. The corrected version of the article has been published online. [Extracted from the article]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patient and family advisory councils are common within children's hospitals. However, lack of diversity among patient and family advisors (PFAs) may result in exclusion of crucial perspectives and perpetuate inequities. We sought to understand PFA perspectives on how children's hospitals should approach: (1) recruitment and support of PFAs from groups at greater risk of health inequities; and (2) development of meaningful partnerships with PFAs or patient and family advisory councils on institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study of PFAs of children's hospitals from communities at greater risk for health inequities based on self-identified race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, language, or other factors. Focus groups were virtual and group discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive qualitative analysis. RESULTS: In total, 17 PFAs participated across 5 focus groups (4 in English, 1 in Spanish). We identified 6 themes: (1) PFA diversity is necessary to understand existing health inequities; (2) diversity needs to be considered broadly; (3) recruiting for diverse PFAs requires intentionality, visibility of PFACs within and outside of the hospital, and deliberate connections with families and communities; (4) efforts to increase PFAC diversity must be accompanied by work to develop inclusive environments; (5) diversity efforts require meaningful engagement and equity; and (6) diverse PFACs can enrich DEI efforts but require organizational commitment and follow-through. CONCLUSIONS: Insights from our qualitative study of PFAs can be used by healthcare systems to foster diversity and inclusion in PFACs and advance hospital DEI efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between developmental disorders, specifically ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is examined in this study. The National Survey of Children's Health was utilized to generate odds ratios using logistic regression. Children with developmental disorders had higher odds of all ACEs compared to neurotypical children. ASD diagnosis had the strongest correlation with Community ACEs, while ADHD diagnosis was more strongly correlated with household ACEs. Co-occurring ASD/ADHD correlated strongly with abuse/neglect ACEs. These findings indicate the need for targeted interventions to reduce experiences of ACEs and support access to and navigation of healthcare systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of childhood has evolved over the years, inspired by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, shifting from developmental models to a conception of childhood that recognizes children as moral agents. This evolution highlights the importance of respecting children's agency and their right to be heard in matters that are related to them. In conventional health research, however, children's voices are often inadequately accessed. In this commentary, we discuss the imperative to recognize children's agency in dental research and a shift from research on children to research with and by children. Moreover, we underscore the importance of actively seeking and listening to children's voices and recognizing their agency in shaping research and healthcare practices in the field of dentistry. Further, we explore the application of participatory research approaches in dental research and provide examples of studies that have involved children in various capacities. We conclude this commentary by emphasizing the potential benefits of participatory research in both qualitative and quantitative dental studies to promote deeper understanding, clearer communication, and stronger advocacy regarding children's interests. Primarily, we call for greater recognition of children's agency in dental research and advocate for more inclusive and child‐centred research methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to identify the impacts of perceived stress, neglect, online and offline violence, and respect for human rights on depression. To fulfill the purpose of the study, the data of 6277 middle and high school students (M = 15.64, SD = 1.69) from the Survey on the Human Rights of Children and Youth (2018) were used. The main results of the hierarchical multiple regression analysis are as follows. First, gender and age had significant impacts on depression. Second, neglect, perceived stress, and online violence were positively related to depression, whereas offline violence showed no relationship with depression. Third, respect for human rights, which is the final stage of the hierarchical multiple regression analysis, was negatively associated with depression. This study contributed to the research by verifying that perceived respect for human rights is a protective factor against depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Modern Science is the property of Alcide De Gasperi University of Euroregional Economy and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The health and welfare of children and adolescents—the nation's future—must always be a priority. One would, therefore, expect this to be reflected in the manifestos of political parties. This article suggests that pediatricians and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) should play a more proactive role in influencing political parties to commit to an inclusive manifesto that addresses key issues related to child health and welfare, by also liaisoning and collaborating with other stakeholders, such as parents, educators, and child rights organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to show that multidimensional child poverty (MCP) is determined by several socioeconomic factors that influence the formation of stratified groups of poor children under five years of age living in Central America. This study advocates for a comprehensive set of children's rights with the purpose of addressing the different facets of child poverty from the perspective of child well-being, in order to estimate the incidence of MCP, by including multiple childhood deprivations and socioeconomic determinants. Child-specific indicators and household deprivation indicators are considered in the estimation of MCP. The study also states that child poverty is a complex concept, which includes the various types of deprivations experienced by children in the Central American societies and their deprivations are considered as the denial of children's rights. Therefore, the MCP is estimated based on a conditional latent class analysis that includes not only manifest deprivation variables, but also socioeconomic determinants that help to better predict the incidence and probabilities of children being multidimensionally poor according to different poverty strata. The socioeconomic factors that show high risks of MCP are rural areas, indigenous children, young mothers and low levels of education attained by the head of the household, among others. One of the reasons to investigate the MCP for Belize and El Salvador is because there are few studies that address this problem for these countries and this research sheds light on the characteristics of early childhood poverty. The results indicate that the incidence of MCP is 49% in Belize and 76% in El Salvador. The research work concludes that the International Rights of the Child provide the opportunity to implement comprehensive social policies in Central America to eradicate child poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children's participation rights and well-being are two prominent concepts in children's lives. While they are mainly addressed separately in research, empirical associations exist between them. The article analyzes the perspectives of children and teachers concerning children's participation in decisions affecting their school life in one participatory initiative in a primary school in China. Thematic analysis of participant observation, interviews, focus groups, and document examination in one case demonstrates how children experience increased subjective well-being in their participation, focusing on the different types of subjective well-being that children reported improving as a result of their participation. The article indicates that children improved their subjective well-being in two dimensions: social well-being (e.g., friendships with peers and teacher-student relationships) and psychological well-being (e.g., relaxation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INGOs regularly take up mediating positions between young people and structures of global governance. This article explores this relationship through a particularly generative historical case: the 1997 Oslo International Conference on Child Labor and parallel Working Children’s Forum. Informed by scholarship on the internal complexity of transnational advocacy networks, it disentangles the broad category of ‘working children’s organizations and their INGO allies’. An analysis of the relationship between one INGO (the International Save the Children Alliance) and the Latin American working children’s movement (MOLACNATs) in a moment of heightened conflict unearths critical disagreements between these two transnational political actors in terms of their representational frameworks, approaches to children’s participation, and ideas about childhood itself. This demonstrates how the often-stated INGO goal of facilitating children’s participation in global governance is neither singular nor self-evident in its meaning and can be a site of contestation between child-led social movements and allied INGOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely known that criminal punishment, especially imprisonment, has negative effects for innocent persons, most notably the families of prisoners. This is an issue attracting increasing attention from penal theorists and philosophers. Adding to this literature, this article examines the extent to which incarceration of a parent is consistent with fundamental rights that are often ascribed to children. In particular, we focus on children's rights against being separated from their parents. To this end, we begin with a discussion of the philosophical basis for children's rights against being separated from their parents against their will. Drawing from recent work by Kimberley Brownlee and Matthew Liao, we argue that children have such a right and that it is grounded in children's welfare interest and the importance of parent–child relationships for children to develop adequately into autonomous agents. We then examine three arguments why imprisoning a parent is justified despite the fact that children have a right against being separated from their parents. For each of these arguments, we argue that while they may show the imprisonment of a particular parent to be sometimes compatible with respecting the right against parent–child separation, an extensive use of imprisonment as punishment of the sort that persists in many states is not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When Australia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (the Convention) in 1990, all children within its borders became entitled to the protection of the rights set out in the Convention. Children, thus, became rights holders. More than just human rights holders, they became children's rights holders. The Convention is the first international instrument to address the protection of children from violence directly. Corporal punishment (CP) is increasingly recognised internationally as physical abuse and a violation of children's rights. However, CP in the home is still legal in all Australian jurisdictions even though it violates several of the rights protected by the Convention. This contribution will examine Articles 2, 3(1), 5, 16, 19(1), 24(3) and 37(a) of the Convention to outline how parental CP undermines the legally binding obligations of the Convention by violating the rights espoused by these provisions. This article then calls for CP to be outlawed by all state and territory governments to adhere to the aim of the Convention that because of children's unique vulnerabilities, all their rights need to be protected, respected and promoted by those who ratified the Convention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia assaulting another person is a criminal offence. It occurs when one person strikes another person, applying force of any kind either directly or indirectly, without the person's consent. There is an exception. Children are specifically denied legal protection from intentional assaults when it is rebranded as corporal punishment. Successive governments have failed to act to provide children with the same protection from assault as adults despite repeated calls by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child to prohibit corporal punishment in all settings, and the robust body of evidence of the substantial harm it causes (Gershoff & Grogan‐Kaylor, 2016). This glaring inconsistency in the law, should cause us to question how far we have evolved in our attitudes and treatment of children. In particular just how deeply ingrained are attitudes and prejudices about children that rationalise or justify acts and omissions that harm them, and fail to protect their rights (Childism: Confronting Prejudice Against Children, Yale University Press, 2013). This paper will examine past and contemporary attitudes to children and the narrative that helps explains why policy makers and the community tolerate the use of physical force against children, and why a new narrative is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on ways in which United Nations human rights treaties can be used as a normative framework for evaluating program outcomes. In this article, we conceptualize a human rights-based approach to program evaluation and locate this approach within the broader evaluation literature. The article describes how a rights-based framework can be used as an aspirational set of indicators for program evaluations to promote activities that align with internationally agreed-upon human rights norms. We then describe a case study of the evaluation through which this method was developed, including its sampling design, methodology, and findings. The United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) inclusive education evaluation described highlighted the need for conceptual clarity around what inclusive education is, and the importance of contextualized innovation toward meeting the educational rights of children with disabilities. Human rights perspectives and evaluation designs can help create such clarity, but should also be used with care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notwithstanding the legal milestones observed in the Portuguese child protection system (CPS), several concerns call for political action to ensure the effective guarantee of children's rights. In this context, it is imperative to discuss proposals for reforming the CPS. Agreement on these proposals by the stakeholders in the system is key to validating and improving the system. Therefore, the main research questions of the present study are (1) what is the level of agreement among stakeholders in the CPS on certain proposals for child protection reform? and (2) what are the positions on those proposals? Mixed methods were conducted based on an online survey (n = 292), supported by Qualtrics, and eight focus groups involving stakeholders as former beneficiaries, families, practitioners and academics (n = 18). Findings show a harmonious alignment with the proposals, justifying an urgent reform of the CPS and the need to strengthen a child-centred system. Three themes emerged: promotion of quality family-based care and promotion of adoption; development of child-friendly terminology; and improvement of the CPS administration. The conclusions highlight implications for policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This article explores children's learning experiences from taking part in an educational intervention about social services in school. Data were collected from six group interviews with 27 children after they had participated in lessons about social services. Following a narrative evaluation approach, the analysis focuses on the narratives of change that are made visible through the children's shared reflections about their learning experiences. Findings: In their narratives of change, the children presented the educational intervention as meaningful for them because it increased their knowledge about social services as a possible support function for children and families. Some of the children related their previous more negative perceptions of social services to a collective story building on the idea that social services take children away from their families. Through the educational intervention, this collective story changed in part into another collective story building on the idea that social services help children and families to improve their relationships. Applications: The study shows that an educational intervention about social services in school has the potential to increase children's knowledge about social services and to influence in a positive direction the collective stories that shape public perceptions of social work. Although such changes in collective stories can be expected to benefit social work practice, welfare professionals must be careful to promote opportunities for children to share experiences of social services that challenge, as well as align with, any of these collective stories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the role of local and regional authorities in promoting and protecting human rights in Europe. It highlights the emergence of human rights cities, which prioritize human rights in their governance programs, and explores the variation in how subnational authorities perform on human rights issues. The article also discusses the importance of local and regional authorities in the implementation of European Court of Human Rights judgments and calls for greater attention to be given to subnational actors in human rights work. The special issue includes articles that examine various aspects of the human rights role of local and regional authorities, such as their appearance in case law, their position in the European human rights system, their engagement with specific human rights issues, and their perception and practice of human rights. [Extracted from the article]

The dominant arrangement for governance in many States which are party to international human rights treaties is decentralisation. This puts implementation of human rights in the hands of institutions which are geographically closer to intended beneficiaries. Decentralisation to different levels of government introduces complexity, risk and opportunity to the governance of human rights. In response, UN Treaty Monitoring Bodies focus on State responsibility for implementation of human rights. The Committee on the Rights of the Child has emphasised the State as the coordinating body responsible for children's rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). In this paper, Wales is used as an example of a jurisdiction where decentralisation is a feature of children's rights, which has enabled a progressive approach to implementation. It explains the principled Children's Rights Approach which provides public authorities in Wales with a coherent framework to give effect to international children's rights policy planning and service delivery. As the contours of decentralisation in Wales are typical of arrangements in many States parties to the CRC, insights from Wales will be transferable to other jurisdictions. This experience is also relevant to other areas of human rights implementation in the context of decentralisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co‐production values lived experience as it promotes individuals as assets and offers insight where little is known about a problem. This paper critically considers the pragmatic approach to co‐design adopted in Wales with young people and parents affected by child criminal exploitation during the COVID‐19 pandemic. It suggests that combining co‐design with data collection facilitated the recruitment, sensitisation and facilitation of vulnerable groups. By placing informed consent at the forefront of co‐design, young people and parents decided how they wanted their voices heard. Further, combining data gathering with co‐design contextualised solution development within their lived experiences. However, embedding these solutions into policy and practice remains subject to existing power imbalances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participatory approaches are important to ensuring that the involvement of children in decision‐making is normalised in service provision. Participation work requires that professionals have well‐developed engagement skills, and a commitment to the right of the child or young person to participate. Effective participatory approaches also require that organisations provide active support for child‐centred practice. The Reconceptualising Services from the Perspectives of Experienced Children and Teens (ReSPECT) approach is an Australian professional development (PD) program that addresses these key aspects of participation work. It offers professionals a way to:(1) increase their awareness of the complex issues, challenges and benefits surrounding participation; and (2) develop a sense of empowerment and competence in the 'doing' of participation work. The PD program encourages professionals to understand their own position in relation to participation work with children, develop bespoke strategies that account for their unique practice context and assemble support structures that can maintain their participation strategies beyond the training. The principles and practices of the ReSPECT PD program are outlined and positioned within the existing literature on theoretical and practice approaches. The paper contributes to critical debate on the mechanisms that can lead to changes in professional practice and organisational culture, for the meaningful engagement of children as stakeholders in decision‐making. It is shared as a way of supporting others designing professional development approaches for child and youth decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Susanna Marinelli 1, Francesca Negro 2, Maria Cristina Varone 2, Lina De Paola 2, Gabriele Napoletano 2, Alessandra Lopez 3, Simona Zaami 2*, Giuseppe Basile 4. • The article aims to shed a light on the unique complexities inherent in surrogacy and the legal-ethical challenges that currently exists even in many advanced democracies, which frequently result in uneven and ill-defined standards and processes. • The recent proposal of making surrogacy a "universal crime" has prompted us to better analyze the topic and its ethical and legal implications. • Legislative harmonization at the international level is essential to prevent the cross-border surrogacy trend. The "universal crime" draft bills appear to be difficult to enforce and too vague to be credible at the moment. The article aims to shed a light on the unique complexities inherent in surrogacy and the legal-ethical challenges that currently exists even in many advanced democracies, which frequently result in uneven and ill-defined standards and processes. The recent proposal of making surrogacy a "universal crime", meant to prevent cross-border surrogacy, i.e. travels by citizens from countries where it is illegal to countries where it is legal, has also been weighed, by exploring the current legislative state of affairs, trends and future horizons. Recent case-law has been analyzed and interpreted, with a close focus on Italian Supreme Court ruling n. 38162, issued on 30th December 2022 and European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) rulings issued over the past decade. Uncertainty and ill-defined norms and court rulings risk harming the rights of children, surrogate mothers and intended parents. So far, court decisions have somehow filled the legal vacuum, considering that cross-border surrogacy is not specifically regulated in many countries and the status of children born abroad is still controversial. The views and judgments of supranational courts on the issue need to be accounted for when drafting new specific legislation. It is of utmost importance to uphold the rights of children born through surrogacy abroad, whose best interests risk being damaged. Legislative harmonization at the international level is essential to prevent the cross-border surrogacy trend. The "universal crime" draft bills appear to be difficult to enforce and too vague to be credible at the moment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child abuse in sports is a significant threat to the well-being of young athletes. The aim of this study was to create in-depth knowledge of children's perspectives and relational situations regarding the manifestation and effects of emotional abuse towards athletes in children's sports. Based on interviews with 15 children aged 12–18 and five coaches, five themes of emotionally abusive interactions were identified: (a) scolding by coaches; (b) negative criticism from coaches and children; (c) expression of aggression and disappointment by coaches; (d) teasing and joking by children; and (e) denial of attention and support from coaches. These interactions lead to emotionally harmful effects for some of the children, which were not always recognized by coaches and were sometimes downplayed. The findings have implications for identifying situations and behaviours that may constitute emotional abuse in children's sports, paving the way for proactive measures aimed at preventing emotional abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Convention on the Rights of the Child states that all children and young people have the right to have a voice in matters concerning them, in accordance with age and maturity. In the endeavour to make youth sport a safe place free from abuse and harassment, it is crucial to ensure that young athletes can exercise their participation rights. Drawing from an online study involving over 550 Swedish young equestrians aged 15–17, the aim was to investigate whether and in what ways young equestrians can make their voices heard. The results show that the possibility to have a voice is conditioned by sociocultural factors such as what type of stable the youths are active in. The results are analysed from 'The ladder of participation'. In sum, social interaction and access to horses are important conditions for how young equestrians experience the possibility to have a voice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There is a paucity of literature on children and young people's participation in decision-making within healthcare organisations in New Zealand. This integrative review examined child self-reported peer-reviewed manuscripts and published guidelines, policy, reviews, expert opinion and legislation to explore how New Zealand children and young people participate in discussions and decision-making processes within healthcare settings and what are barriers and benefits to such participation. Four child self-reported peer-reviewed manuscripts and twelve expert opinion documents were retrieved from four electronic databases including academic, government and institutional websites. Inductive content thematic analysis generated one theme (a discourse in children and young people's participation within healthcare settings), four sub-themes, 11 categories, 93 codes and 202 findings. It is evident within this review that there is a discourse between what expert opinion are stating is required to promote children and young people's participation in discussions and decision-making processes within healthcare settings and what is occurring in practice. Despite literature reporting on how children and young people's participation and voice were essential for healthcare provision, there was sparse literature published on children and young people's participation in discussions and decision-making processes in healthcare delivery in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This response to the question about what we are angry about and what we dream of for young children reflects our work of over 30 years in Australasia. For Kylie in Australia and for Sonja in Aotearoa New Zealand and now also Australia. We direct the RECE common call, for an elevation of children's rights, to a voice, to a 'good' education, and to a 'good' life, to the children, families, teachers, educators and communities with whom we live and work. As two RECE scholars, teachers of young children and of their teachers, and as researchers who are concerned with social justice and equity, we focus specifically on what good might mean in relation to education, life and community, through the lens of the current state of early childhood education in Australasia, now and in the future. We highlight some of the critical concerns with the current state of the sector, arguing that there is much to be fighting for, much, as the call for this special edition asks, to be angry about – still. With a specific focus on the crucial connections between early childhood education and teachers' understandings and experiences of their own gendered and cultural wellbeing, we draw on our prior and current research to urge an ongoing questioning as we and the sector traverse these precarious areas that undoubtedly affect the inclusiveness and 'goodness' of teachers' and children's lives and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The realm of alternative care for children covers a variety of care systems, which include residential care, small group homes, mother and child shelters, transit homes, adoption, foster care and kinship care. The United Nations General Assembly's 2019 resolution on children's rights emphasises the significance of family-based environments for children, particularly those without parental care, and underlines their right to grow up in a family setting. In light of this resolution, kinship care emerges as a crucial family-based care avenue for children lacking parental care. In India, kinship care stands as the predominant form of care for children lacking sufficient parental support and is the most common form of care in almost all regions, religions, castes and ethnic groups due to the tradition of the joint family system and close ties among relatives. While this care option is the most common form of out-of-home care, it is also the least systematically recorded, monitored or supported structure. The study, through the lens of kinship carers, ward and village-level child protection committees and community workers, focuses on the important aspects of support, motivation, love, responsibility and challenges that underlie providing care for children without parental care. This qualitative study employs ethnographic interview techniques to understand the most authentic experiences of kinship carers. Families were initially identified based on secondary data captured from the assessment and intervention planning done using the Thrive Scale™ tool as part of the case management process. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six families from two different communities (one urban community in the state of Maharashtra and one rural community located in the state of Gujarat in India) to assess the existing support structures available for kinship carers and their families, identifying gaps and measures being taken to address them to ensure meaningful well-being of children and kinship families. The study discusses various challenges of kinship families, from financial struggles to familial disconnection, lack of housing infrastructure or access to healthcare, family issues like alcoholism or child labour, lack of education or livelihood and social isolation. The study further recommends increased attention and resources directed towards supporting kinship carers, acknowledging their invaluable role in providing love, support and stability to children without parental care, and also emphasises the importance of recognising and formalising kinship care within a broader framework of alternative care for children. Miracle Foundation India is committed towards ensuring that every child has an opportunity to grow up in a family, to become a healthy, happy, income-producing person and to experience a true sense of belonging. The paramount significance of kinship care is recognised by Miracle India in its sphere of both the prevention of child separation from family and reintegration work. After a thorough assessment of these families on the five key domains of well-being—physical and mental health, education, family and social relationships, household economy and living conditions—and continuous monitoring and follow-up, Miracle India provided a comprehensive support service to these families, strengthened them and ensured sustained access to support services, ultimately promoting child welfare. During this study, the focus remained on prioritising the implementation of supportive policies and resources for kinship caregivers to ensure that every child in vulnerable circumstances thrives within the warmth and stability of a loving and caring family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to critically examine the universalisation of treaties such as the Hague Convention to highlight the tension it brings out between women's rights and children's rights by blindsiding gender-related issues and cultural realities. Written in the context of Ariha Shah in Germany and the Bhattacharya case in Norway, this article aims to map the landscape of international child abduction and repatriation attempts by parents in India, as well as the Indian legislative attempt to tackle the issue of abduction through the draft of the Civil Aspects of International Parental Abduction Bill, 2016. Viewed critically through a child rights perspective, the article considers whether the positioning of the Abduction Bill from a feminist viewpoint does justice to the agency of children involved, and makes recommendations on how their position can be strengthened further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutional care for children without families is still widely used globally as a child protection intervention, despite concerns that it violates child rights, separates children from their families, puts children at risk of abuse and neglect and is harmful for child development. This article applied attachment theory to analyse the use and risks of institutional care. It also discusses the challenges and consequences of implementing deinstitutionalisation strategies, a series of policy-driven activities aimed at transitioning a child protection system from an institutional to family-based model of childcare. A secondary data analysis found the progressive elimination of institutions can be effective where deinstitutionalisation strategies implement an attachment approach to improve institutions alongside building permanency planning capacity for children. This article proposes that institutional care may have a role as a child protection intervention where it is temporary, recognises a child's need for secure attachment and facilitates safe permanency in a family setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization's (WHO) designation of noma as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) on 15 December 2023 marks a crucial advancement in global health efforts. This move sheds light on a condition predominantly affecting undernourished children in isolated regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Recognized as the 21st NTD, noma, or cancrum oris, is a serious condition leading to orofacial gangrene. The disease largely impacts young children and those with compromised immune systems, including individuals with human immunodeficiency virus or leukaemia. Determining the exact prevalence of noma is complex, hindered by rapid disease progression, societal stigma and a lack of reporting, especially in impoverished areas. The WHO's acknowledgment is a significant step, emphasizing the need for more in-depth research and resources to address this overlooked disease. It highlights the critical role of multifaceted prevention strategies, including economic empowerment, improved nutrition and enhanced vaccination efforts. This recognition is pivotal in guiding international health initiatives towards better outcomes for some of the most at-risk populations globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In recent years, the world has witnessed the emergence and rapid spread of socially dangerous diseases, highlighting the critical need for robust ethical and legal frameworks within national biosecurity systems. This article discusses the ethical considerations and legal aspects surrounding the prevention and control of these diseases in order to devise effective strategies for their containment and mitigation. Drawing on a comprehensive review of literature, this study explores how societal norms, individual rights, and public health imperatives intersect within the context of biosecurity measures. It underscores the significance of ethical considerations to ensure fair and equitable access to preventive measures, diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines. Additionally, legal frameworks play a pivotal role in enabling the implementation of necessary interventions during disease outbreaks, such as quarantine measures, contact tracing, and the establishment of efficient surveillance systems. This study analyzes the national biological security measures in Azerbaijan and compares them to other countries to identify strategies for preserving and controlling the transmission of public health threats. The research aims to provide insights into the effectiveness of Azerbaijan's current biological security policies and highlight areas for improvement. The study includes a comprehensive review of relevant literature on biosecurity measures of Azerbaijan. The findings of this study will contribute to the global understanding of biological security practices and inform recommendations for enhancing Azerbaijan's preparedness in managing public health threats. Finally, the article emphasizes the need for international cooperation and harmonization of ethical and legal standards in addressing the global spread of socially dangerous diseases. It highlights the significance of sharing best practices and lessons learned to strengthen preparedness and response capacities across nations, facilitating a more coordinated and effective approach to prevent and control disease outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has published its much-awaited General Comment No. 25 on children's rights in the digital environment in 2021. Much of the conversations since its adoption have centred on how General Comment No. 25 influences State behaviours in the western world or globally. Little attention has been given as to what General Comment No. 25 means for children's right to privacy in Africa. This article seeks to explore the role of General Comment No. 25 in clarifying States' obligations in respect of children's rights to privacy and data protection in the digital era on the African continent. In doing so, this article first contextualises General Comment No. 25 in the broader context of the United Nations human rights system and analyses its recommendations on children's right to privacy. Second, the article examines children's right to privacy in Africa and analyses the specific features of the African human rights system that influence the understanding of this right. Finally, the article illuminates certain child-specific privacy and data protection measures that are being or have been included or discussed in the law-making processes and policy debates in a selection of African countries and links them to both General Comment No. 25 and the socio-cultural context of the continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of rapid urbanization in third-world countries, many cities adopt high-density development, effectively using land but limiting open space, especially for children, impacting their spatial rights. This study focused on the Dongcheng and Xicheng districts of Beijing. It employed methods such as variance inflation factor, multiple linear regression, spatial autocorrelation, and spatial econometric models to investigate the impact of various configuration factors on children's satisfaction with outdoor activity space. The study also revealed the spillover effects of outdoor activity space configuration for children in high-density urban environments. The results showed that (1) children's satisfaction was significantly influenced by the configuration elements. The variables that had the most significant impact on satisfaction were the number of outdoor spaces, facilities' amusement, advertisements, and service management levels. (2) Using spatial econometric models, we determined that spatial dependency significantly enhances the model's explanatory power. The quantity of outdoor space had the greatest effect on children's outdoor activity space satisfaction, followed by facilities' amusement and advertisement impact, and service management had the least impact, though all categories positively affected satisfaction. This study held significant value and importance in improving the rights of children in mega-cities in developing countries and promoting the physical and mental well-being of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the pivotal role of psycho-social support in bolstering the mental and spiritual well-being of migrant and refugee children. It highlights the necessity to shield these vulnerable groups from spiritual abuse within humanitarian efforts. Remarkably, an estimated 117 million people are currently displaced by conflict, violence, war, and natural disasters, and as of 2023, nearly half of them are under the age of 18. The call, therefore, for culturally sensitive, effective interventions is manifestly urgent. Our research underscores, in order to highlight, the significance of professionalizing faith-based and local faith actors to advocate for standards that mitigate the risks of religious exploitation and safeguard the children's spiritual identity, practices, and beliefs. We highlight the existing gaps in the literature and propose a framework for further research. Our focus is on the effectiveness of the Global Compact on Refugees and the impact of local versus global policies on the protection and well-being of migrant and refugee children. Our analysis extends to humanitarian agencies' and caregivers' best practices and prevention strategies. It further emphasizes the importance of safeguarding neutrality at all times and promoting community reintegration. Our findings call for a concerted effort to enhance professionalism among those working with refugees in humanitarian frameworks, prioritizing children's spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. This study seeks to contribute to the ongoing discourse on the rights of children on the move. It advocates for policies and practices that recognize their vulnerability and potential for resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying nation branding literature and the work of Erving Goffman on dramaturgy to the situation of asylum-seeking children in Norway and in the UK, this paper develops a comparative framework for understanding why child rights appear to be de-prioritised in the current climate of 'migration control'. The paper identifies historically grounded differential approaches towards child rights and children in the two countries, which currently appear to merge into a common trajectory of migration control, framed in terms of national security and economic productivity. It explores similar tensions in both countries between the discourses of national migration management on the one hand and children's welfare and rights on the other. It finds that universal rights which should protect the welfare of all children are limited and fragmented by ideas of nationalism and foreignness. Despite a more robust legal framework for child rights, Norway is on a similar pathway as the UK; a worrying indictment of how nations fulfil their obligations towards children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the findings and implications of interdisciplinary exploratory research conducted by social work and recordkeeping informatics researchers in Australia and the UK. It sought to identify the practices, systems, education and technologies that can foster rights-based, child-centred recordkeeping practices in child protection contexts, exploring the transformation and advocacy work that could be achieved in child protection case note recording and recordkeeping practices and systems through interdisciplinary collaborations. Drawing from qualitative interviews, focus groups and surveys with Social Work students, Social Work educators and practice educators, and with practitioners working in children’s social care (in England) and the child protection services system (in Australia), we identify how practitioners are prepared for keeping records that reflect children’s voices and experiences, and identify emerging best practices and persistent challenges. Focusing on the intersection of child rights, archival ethics, and participatory approaches, this paper adds to the discourse on critical archival studies concerning children and calls for an interdisciplinary approach to reimagine future possibilities for participatory and child-centred practice in which children are not just passive subjects but active collaborators in the recordkeeping process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asylum has historically been a refuge for the persecuted. However, it now faces a fundamental antagonism between asylum and law, which often overlooks the rights of children seeking asylum. This paper explores the historical concept of asylum law from its inception in antiquity and the Roman era and its entanglements with the education of children. It also examines asylum's relevance to current conflicts over the educational rights of asylum-seeking children and how international conventions have neglected these rights. To contextualize the ambiguity of asylum and education, the paper presents a case study of Norway's reception of asylum-seeking children from the 1930s to the present day and how the Norwegian welfare system, which was founded on child rights protection, has struggled with the entry of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The paper concludes with reflections on the potential impact of education for these children, considering their encounters as temporary educational moments. This exploration focuses on clarifying historical strands, turning points, and threads rather than taking a subjective historical perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary is distinctly personal for us. We think it should be likewise for all scholars, leaders and organisers involved in youth sport. This is because, to our minds, at the core of most people’s ways of approaching and promoting these supposedly healthy activities to children and young adults, is an apparent well-meaningness which centres on wanting the best for current and future generations. Unfortunately, while we accept such good intentions are present, they do not negate the empirical reality that critical scholars of sport have been pointing towards for over five decades – that is, professional and performance focused sports are often socially, politically and ethically questionable enterprises. If central features of our argument in this direction are accepted, several problems in terms of children’s rights, health, and wellbeing become apparent as quite fundamental to the model of sport which is currently dominant in the Western imagination. To offer a path forward we outlined a focus on human development as the foundation upon which we build a series of clear recommendations. We conclude with the purposely pithy, populist and powerful statement that encouraging players to play, rather than thinking of sport as akin to work, should not be understood as some impossible task, but rather, a return to the ways that many of us were first drawn to the amazing potentials embedded in ‘sport’. We compel scholars to reflect deeply on their place in the subcultures we critique, and if after doing so, they find themselves complicit in maintaining a world of sport that damages young people, contributes to them dropping out, and otherwise reduces the fun, enjoyment and positive development they gain from physical activity, we hope they will join us in being part of the solution rather than continuing to be central to the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a measure to slow down the transmission of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), governments around the world placed their countries under various stringent lockdown measures. Uganda is one of the countries that had a strict lockdown in Africa. This qualitative study explored the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown in both an urban (Kampala) and rural (Wakiso) setting in Central Uganda. Methods: The study used focus group discussions (FGDs), household interviews, and key informant interviews (KIIs). 14 FGDs were conducted among several stakeholders including community health workers, health professionals, and members of the community. 40 household interviews were conducted among low, middle, and high-income households, while 31 KIIs were held among policy makers, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector. Data were analysed thematically in NVivo 2020 (QSR International). Results: Findings from the study are presented under six themes: family disruption; abuse of children's rights; disruption in education; food insecurity; impact on livelihoods; and violation of human rights. The study found that the COVID-19 lockdown led to family breakups, loss of family housing, as well as increased both caring responsibilities and gender-based violence especially towards females. Children's welfare suffered through increased child labour, sexual exploitation, and early marriages. The extended closure of schools led to delayed educational milestones, poor adaptation to home-based learning, and increased school drop-out rates. Increased food insecurity led to changes in feeding patterns and reduced food varieties. Livelihoods were negatively affected hence people depleted their savings and capital. Unlawful detention and beating by law enforcement officers increased during the lockdown. Conclusion: Future pandemic planning needs to consider the consequences of lockdown on the social and economic wellbeing of communities hence put in place appropriate mitigation measures during and after the outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researching with children and young people on topics that are considered to be 'sensitive', such as family violence, trauma and abuse, continues to be challenging. But there still is not enough evidence on children and young people's own views and experiences of participating in 'sensitive' research. This article reflects on our experience, as a team of young lived experience advocates and a university researcher, of working together on a project to find out what children and young people in Victoria, Australia who have experienced family violence need to support them in their recovery. The project is about learning what is working well, what could be done better, and where the gaps are between what children and young people tell us they need from services, and what services are doing now. This article shares what we have learnt, including how we have set up a Youth Advisory Group and how we have developed an interactive online activity for children and young people to tell us about their experiences of family violence support services. We also discuss challenges we have faced, such as navigating power flows within the project team; embedding co-design into the project; and getting ethics approval to do this research. Finally, we share three guiding principles for collaborative research that puts children and young people's voices, views and experiences at the centre. We hope that others can learn from our experience to promote the rights and participation of children and young people when working with them in research about family violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A best-evidence synthesis and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate interventions designed to decrease noncompliance in early childhood settings. Studies were examined for quality, intervention components, and outcomes for young children (ages 2–8 years) across settings. Results indicated most designs were high-quality and produced desired outcomes. However, participant inclusion criteria were commonly underreported, and social and ecological validity data were absent. Thus, for whom noncompliance interventions are effective, appropriate, feasible, or preferred is largely unknown. Contrary to prior evidence from the broader challenging behavior literature, function-based assessments had no impact on intervention outcomes. Reasons for this finding are explored, including the narrow application of function-based assessment findings to compliance interventions. Future implications for research and practice are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents of individuals with autism face many challenges in accessing appropriate services and supports for their offspring. Parents also play vital roles in advocating for their offspring's rights and needs. Furthermore, despite advocacy programs becoming increasingly common, it remains unclear how to best foster advocacy among parents of individuals with autism. To this end, we examined the associations among knowledge, empowerment, and three types of advocacy activities (i.e. individual, peer, and systemic) among 185 parents of transition-aged youth with autism using structural equation modeling. Results show that empowerment has a greater impact on advocacy than knowledge. Significant direct and indirect effects of individual advocacy activities on peer advocacy activities, and peer advocacy activities on systemic advocacy activities were also confirmed. Implications for research and practice are discussed. Parents of individuals with autism face many challenges in finding appropriate services and support for their children, and they also play an important role in advocating for their children's rights and needs. Despite the increasing availability of advocacy programs, it is still uncertain how to best encourage parents to advocate for their children. This study explored the connection between parents' knowledge and sense of empowerment, and how these factors relate to three types of advocacy activities (i.e. individual, peer, and systemic). The findings reveal that feeling empowered has a greater impact on advocacy than simply having knowledge. In addition, the study found that individual advocacy correlates to more peer advocacy, which also correlates to more systemic advocacy. These results can help researchers and professionals to better develop programs to increase parent advocacy and, in turn, help improve the lives of individuals with autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]