730-406 Children Rights and the Law

Legal Method and Reasoning; Principles of Public Law; Torts; Legal Theory or in each case their equivalents.

This subject provides a critical examination of the relationship between children, human rights discourse and the law. It consists of two parts. Part A will explore the development of a rights-based approach to matters involving children and involves:

• a consideration of the historical relationships between children and the law

• an evaluation of the concept, theory and philosophy of children's rights; and

• an examination of the way in which domestic and international legal frameworks, principally the Convention on the Rights of the Child, have impacted on the status and treatment of children within society.

Part B will involve a discussion and consideration of contemporary issues concerning children by reference to a rights-based framework. It will explore and critique the content of the relevant legal frameworks and provide an analysis of the extent to which domestic law and policy is consistent with a rights-based approach to matters concerning children. The case studies to be covered will be drawn from areas such as: juvenile justice; child labour; youth homelessness; Indigenous children, culture and violence; child refugees; child prositution and pornography; the relationship between childhood obesity, eating disorders and the media.

Note: The essay in this subject is regarded as a substantial piece of legal writing for honours purposes.

Research essay 5000 words 100% (due final day of semester).

Printed materials will be issued by the Faculty of Law.