Course content

The course presents an overview of different declarations on children's rights in a historical perspective. It discusses the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its implications for children's lives in different parts of the world. Children's lives and welfare in light of changing policies and processes of globalisation will be explored. Among additional topics to be addressed include emerging issues on the rights of minority-group children (e.g. the rights of street children, the rights of refugee children etc.), children as social participants in the economic, social and cultural reproduction of society, the role of NGO in the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, assessments of national reports on children's rights, migration and ethnicity, etc. Through nuanced discussion, the course also addresses the competing discourses on children as autonomous beings or as dependent social becomings.

Learning outcome

The main objectives of the course are to provide students with knowledge on:
* Discourses on children's rights.
* Global discourses on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and children's rights to provision, protection and participation.
* Regional conventions on children's rights (e.g. the African charter on the rights of the child).
* The dynamic relationship between globalisation processes and children's lives in different parts of the world.

Learning methods and activities

Total lecture hours: 20 hours, total seminar hours: up to 12 hours. The course consists of: (1) A common introduction with lectures. (2) A seminar with presentation and discussion of the individual students' term papers. Each student will be required to comment on another student's term paper. Please note that the course may be cancelled due to teaching capacity or if less than 5-7 students register for the course. Please check www.ntnu.no/studies/childhood studies/master/studentinformation for updated information about what courses are available. Information about cancellations will be given no later than August 25th.

Compulsory assignments

• Oral presentation

Recommended previous knowledge

See required previous knowledge.

Required previous knowledge

Admittance to the course requires a bachelor’s degree in a social science or humanities discipline, or equivalent.

Course materials

Information will be given at the beginning of the semester.

Credit reductions