Motivating Political Responsibility for Children in Poor Countries

Abstract

In this essay I argue that there are other parties responsible for the democratic political education of children besides the state, nongovernmental organizations such as Save the Children, and multilaterial organizations such as UNICEF. These other parties are the individuals and institutions who benefit through their relationships with children in need in poor countries. Some are domestic and some are foreign. As sponsors of orphanages, agents of international adoption, and employers of household labor, individuals and institutions, primarily but not exclusively from rich countries, incur a responsibility for the democratic political education of children in poor countries. My argument for this responsibility is in two parts. First I introduce two concepts of responsibility for the violation of children's rights: cause responsibility and benefit responsibility. The second part of the essay addresses the problem of how to motivate parties who are benefit responsible for the violation or unfulfillment of children's rights to recognize and act on these political responsibilities.