ADULTS AS ADVOCATES : HOW SEXUAL ABUSE WAS PUT ON THE CHILD RIGHTS MAP IN INDIA
(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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- author
- Mortensen, Therese Boje LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023-12
- 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}}, }