Children's Rights in a Nordic Perspective

This course offers a critical examination of children's rights in the Nordic region, focusing on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989. All Nordic countries have ratified the Convention and to various extent integrated it in their national laws. Although the Nordic region has traditionally been reckoned pioneers in promoting and ensuring children’s rights, the countries also encounter a range of challenges. The course presents a historical overview of the development of children's rights and discusses the principles of the current Convention, such as the principle of the 'best interest of the child' and children's rights to provision, protection, and participation. The course addresses how different actors in the Nordic region interpret, implement, and apply the Convention and sheds light on some of the current problems in policies and practices relating to children. The course has a particular focus on children and youth in vulnerable situations, such as in the child welfare system, adoption system, migration system, juvenile justice system, next-of-kin to family members with mental, physical, or addiction problems, etc. In addition, the course highlights the practice of rights in everyday arenas of children and youth, such as in kindergarten and schools, social media and gaming, leisure activities, research, and political spheres. In this regard, the course pays particular attention to how to involve children and youth in decision-making and ensure their participatory rights.

The main objectives of the course are to provide students with knowledge of:

• The historical background of children's rights
• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC); articles, principles, and practices
• Contemporary issues related to children’s rights in the Nordic region (e.g., education, child welfare system, migration, etc.)
• Participatory practices involving children and youth in decision-making processes in different arenas

Total lecture hours: approximately 20 hours.