Children and Young People as Rights-Holders and Competent Social Actors

Chapter 2 introduces conceptual approaches for understanding the influence of Childhood Studies and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in establishing theoretical and normative imperatives for children and young people’s participation rights. While discussing children and young people’s opportunities to influence decision-making and bring about change, the chapter examines the implication of positioning them as articulate social actors with the competencies and abilities to participate, generate knowledge and contribute to a change.