Global Child Welfare and Well-Being

Abstract

What are some of the most common threats to the well-being of children in the Global North and Global South? This book seeks to answer this question. It is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which maintains that children have a right to necessities that allow them to reach their full adult potential, including sufficient food and water, medical care, safety, education, freedom to play and the opportunity to have their voices heard in matters that concern them. After an introductory chapter on the history and provisions of the UNCRC, Susan Mapp looks in turn at child labour, child trafficking, child soldiers, children affected by war and conflict, maltreatment and adoption, education and issues particularly affecting girls. Implementation of the UNCRC is difficult to measure, although indicators suggested by UNICEF include legislative reform, a national agenda for implementation and the appointment of a children's rights ombudsman or Commissioner. Other markers include redistributing resources towards children, the systematic monitoring of rights' violations and raising awareness of the Convention's provisions. All are all likely to be needed, but progress is very varied and realisation of the Convention's ideals is likely to take a long time. This theme runs throughout the book.