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ADULTS AS ADVOCATES : HOW SEXUAL ABUSE WAS PUT ON THE CHILD RIGHTS MAP IN INDIA

Mortensen, Therese Boje LU (2023) In Sociological Studies of Children and Youth 33. p.191-208
Abstract

Is more child participation always better for child rights advocacy? That is the question I examine, in this chapter, as I analyse advocacy for child rights in India that led to the adoption of the landmark Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (the ‘POCSO Act’). Through ethnographic fieldwork with non-government organisations (NGOs) and a narrative analysis of interviews and awareness material, I tell the story of how a combination of adult-led but child-participatory advocacy brought about a new, de-tabooised way of talking about child sexual abuse. By applying the theoretical lens of ‘critical child rights studies’, I suggest how we can conceptualise a critical perspective on child participation in child rights... (More)

Is more child participation always better for child rights advocacy? That is the question I examine, in this chapter, as I analyse advocacy for child rights in India that led to the adoption of the landmark Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (the ‘POCSO Act’). Through ethnographic fieldwork with non-government organisations (NGOs) and a narrative analysis of interviews and awareness material, I tell the story of how a combination of adult-led but child-participatory advocacy brought about a new, de-tabooised way of talking about child sexual abuse. By applying the theoretical lens of ‘critical child rights studies’, I suggest how we can conceptualise a critical perspective on child participation in child rights advocacy. First, adults’ multiple and, at times, conflicting roles in children’s lives – as advocates, protectors, and abusers – needs to be recognised. Second, children should participate in advocacy activities where they can have meaningful influence and be part of the conversation. This may not necessarily occur in adult spaces, where their participation remains token. Finally, I argue that child participation should never turn into a responsibilisation of children.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Advocacy, child participation, child rights, child sexual abuse, critical child rights studies, India
host publication
Childhood, Youth and Activism: Demands for Rights and Justice from Young People and their Advocates
series title
Sociological Studies of Children and Youth
editor
Wright, K. and McLeod, J.
volume
33
pages
18 pages
publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
external identifiers
  • scopus:85179170529
ISSN
1537-4661
ISBN
978-1-80117-469-5
978-1-80117-468-8
DOI
10.1108/S1537-46612023011
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2024 by Therese Boje Mortensen.
id
9b9daf38-a7af-4b1c-b6ae-16ed3d079ed5
date added to LUP
2024-01-03 14:41:02
date last changed
2024-04-18 12:00:38
@inbook{9b9daf38-a7af-4b1c-b6ae-16ed3d079ed5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Is more child participation always better for child rights advocacy? That is the question I examine, in this chapter, as I analyse advocacy for child rights in India that led to the adoption of the landmark Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (the ‘POCSO Act’). Through ethnographic fieldwork with non-government organisations (NGOs) and a narrative analysis of interviews and awareness material, I tell the story of how a combination of adult-led but child-participatory advocacy brought about a new, de-tabooised way of talking about child sexual abuse. By applying the theoretical lens of ‘critical child rights studies’, I suggest how we can conceptualise a critical perspective on child participation in child rights advocacy. First, adults’ multiple and, at times, conflicting roles in children’s lives – as advocates, protectors, and abusers – needs to be recognised. Second, children should participate in advocacy activities where they can have meaningful influence and be part of the conversation. This may not necessarily occur in adult spaces, where their participation remains token. Finally, I argue that child participation should never turn into a responsibilisation of children.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mortensen, Therese Boje}},
  booktitle    = {{Childhood, Youth and Activism: Demands for Rights and Justice from Young People and their Advocates}},
  editor       = {{Wright, K. and McLeod, J.}},
  isbn         = {{978-1-80117-469-5}},
  issn         = {{1537-4661}},
  keywords     = {{Advocacy; child participation; child rights; child sexual abuse; critical child rights studies; India}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{191--208}},
  publisher    = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
  series       = {{Sociological Studies of Children and Youth}},
  title        = {{ADULTS AS ADVOCATES : HOW SEXUAL ABUSE WAS PUT ON THE CHILD RIGHTS MAP IN INDIA}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/S1537-46612023011}},
  doi          = {{10.1108/S1537-46612023011}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}