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LW3ICR-International Children's Rights

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10ECTS credits]
Level: 6
Terms in which taught: Autumn
Module Convenor: Professor M King
Pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2009/0

Email: m.j.king@reading.ac.uk

Aims:

  • To introduce to students those international conventions relating to the rights of the child;
  • to present a historical background to legal and political concerns about children’s rights; to encourage an understanding of political and sociological theories concerning the concept of rights and the application of this concept to children, their autonomy and their welfare;
  • to distinguish between different kinds of rights and their implications for children’s relationships with adults;
  • to develop a knowledge and understanding of attempts to implement solutions based on children’s rights to several social problems concerning children in different cultural and geographical contexts and the factors contributing to their success or failure.

    Assessable learning outcomes:
    On completion of the module, students will be expected to be able to:

  • Distinguish between the different forms that children’s rights take and, in particular, which of these rights are enforceable through legal or other processes.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of theoretical issues concerning human rights and their application to issues concerning children’s welfare.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the contribution of political and economic factors in children’s suffering throughout the world and critically evaluate the extent to which their effects are amenable to control through international children’s rights law.
  • Understand the complex causality of social problems concerning children and their resistance to simple solutions.

    Additional outcomes:
    This module will encourage the development of analytical and critical approaches to social issues which takes into account the complexity of these issues and the different perspectives that may be deployed in their understanding. The written work, seminar discussions and presentation and the examination will encourage students to develop their oral and written communication skills and the ability to work independently.

    Outline content:

  • What are rights? – political and legal theories
  • Theories of children’s needs and child development
  • Children’s rights versus Adults’ rights
  • Current problems affecting children globally (e.g. disease, wars, malnutrition and starvation, child labour, child sex trafficking)
  • The invocation of children’s rights as a response to these problems
  • The roles of the United Nations, national governments and NGOs

    Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
    This module will be taught by seminars in the Autumn term. Each student will participate in an assessed group presentation in the summer term.

    Contact hours:

      Autumn Spring Summer
    Lectures
    Tutorials/seminars 10 x 2 hrs     
    Practicals      
    Other contact (eg study visits)   Project supervision by arrangement  Revision by email 
    Total hours 20 hrs     
    Number of essays or assignments   1 (assessed)   
    Other (eg major seminar paper)     1 (assessed group presentation) 

    Assessment:
    One essay of 10 pages formatted in accordance with the rules as set out in the School Guide (Programme Assessment). The title for the essay to be agreed with the module convenor. The essay is 40% of the assessment in the module.

    One group presentation counting for 10% of the assessment in the module.

    Relative percentage of coursework: 50%.

    Examinations
    One 2 hour examination paper counting for 50% of the marks. Two questions to be answered from a selection of questions.

    Requirements for a pass: 40% overall.

    Reassessment arrangements: See School Guide (Programme Assessment), but note that only the failed element(s) must be retaken with marks for the passed element being carried forward.

    Last updated: 7 December 2009

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