Thesis advisor: M. Brinton Lykes / Most recent figures indicate that approximately one in five children in the United States is poor (Children’s Defense Fund, 2010; Moore et al., 2009). Thus, the United States ranks considerably below other Northern Hemisphere nations in indices of both child poverty and child well-being (Rainwater & Smeeding, 2003; UNICEF, 2007). Moreover, while the United States has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), this treaty has been central in reframing policy and practices towards reducing child poverty in some other Northern Hemisphere nations. Many authors and activists have suggested that US nonratification of this Convention is based on “American exceptionalism.” This paper examines these claims – and counterclaims – and explores, through comparisons with several other Northern Hemisphere nations, how the Convention on the Rights of the Child, if ratified and implemented through US policy and practice, could play a significant part in tackling child poverty in this nation. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: International Studies Honors Program. / Discipline: International Studies.

Strategic litigation for the achievement of education rights for pregnant learners in Africa has emerged at both national and regional level in recent years. While it is important that the narrative shaped by these cases reflect a child-rights approach, informed by sufficient child participation and consideration of their views, a child-rights approach is not always followed, nor is the content of such an approach sufficiently explored in the literature. This study explores the theoretical content of a child-rights compliant approach to litigation as well as its application in African cases, and the effect that this approach or lack thereof has on children’s long-term enjoyment of their rights. The main question the research seeks to answer is whether strategic litigation on pregnant learners in Africa has effectively applied a child-rights compliant approach. In order to answer that question the scope and content of, and the normative basis for, a child-rights compliant approach to strategic litigation is explored. The research seeks to answer whether the cases before the African human rights system’s judicial bodies are compliant with such an approach. The main research question is complemented by secondary questions: What is the effect of a child-rights approach to impact litigation on access to education for pregnant learners in Africa, and what can future litigators do to improve child-rights compliance to litigation? The study reveals that the essential tenets of a child-rights approach consist of four crucial elements, namely a basis in conception of childhood as agentic as opposed to protectionist; procedural child-friendly access to justice; child participation through being heard and by being parties to a case; and rootedness in a child inclusive social movement. It concludes by making recommendations to various stakeholders towards improved implementation of a child-rights approach in strategic litigation. / Mini Dissertation (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa))--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Centre for Human Rights / LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa) / Unrestricted

Magister Legum - LLM / As a case study, the paper analyzes the Bank’s role in the Chad-Cameroon Petroleum Development and Oil Pipeline project (the project) in which the Bank has been involved since the year 2000. The paper presents the lessons, challenges and implications from this protection of human rights.

Gender-Based Violence (GBS) is one of the most important obstacles in theway to development. The model of communication for social change (C4SC),under an approach of civil rights, presents an unavoidable opportunity for communicators to take over the urgent ethical demand of placing their work atthe service of public politics in order to fulfill this goal; but mainly in order tostrengthen the women agency in order to promote their empowerment. Herethe model of C4SC is overlaid on the case of sexual harassment on the streets,in order to identify the strategic lines that can be used for addressing other casesof gender-based violence. / La violencia basada en género (VBG) es uno de los principales obstáculos aldesarrollo. El modelo de comunicación para el cambio social (C4SC) bajo unenfoque de derechos presenta una oportunidad insoslayable para que los comunicadores asumamos la urgencia ética de poner a la comunicación al serviciode políticas públicas que aborden este reto, pero sobre todo, para fortalecer lacapacidad de agencia de las mujeres con miras a su empoderamiento. Aquí sesuperpone el modelo de C4CS al caso del acoso sexual callejero a fin de identificarlíneas estratégicas que sirvan para el abordaje de otros casos de VBG desdela comunicación.

Doctor Legum - LLD / This thesis considers two jurisdictions, namely Malawi and South Africa, and attributes the problem to the lack of appropriate national implementation of the applicable human rights law by these states. Consequently, the study is based on the underlying assumption that one of the main ways of addressing this problem is for African states to undertake measures that comply with international standards for ensuring the appropriate national implementation of the applicable international human rights law.

Child rights, especially the right to health for children, is a concept of human development. The aim of this qualitative study is to explore the obstacles to gender equality in the right to healthcare for children under five years in East Champaran, Bihar, North India. Ten key informant interviews and nine focus group discussions with mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers were conducted to research the barriers of guardians to accessing healthcare for their children, including their root beliefs and choices, which causes health inequalities. It was found that a strong patriarchal tradition predominates in these communities in North India, which favour sons and disadvantages daughters in healthcare provision. Despite the existing child rights and human rights policies that have been legislated, in India traditional practices that discriminate against female children remain dominant in the society, and limit development in East Champaran, Bihar, North India. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)