Children Under the Law

Abstract

The author examines the changing status of children under the law. Traditionally,the law has reflected a social consensus that children's best interests are synonymous with those of their parents, except under the few circumstances where the state is authorized to intervene in family life under the. doctrine of parens patriae. Little consideration has been given to the substantive and procedural rights of children as a discrete interest group. At present, law reform is moving to change children's legal status in two ways: by extending more adult rights to children and by recognizing certain unique needs and interests of children as legally enforceable rights. Ms. Rodham summarizes recent Supreme Court decisions which will influence changes of both kinds, and suggests specific directions reform might take.

The Limits of Childhood: Conceptions of Child Development and Social Context

“…15 It also lends support to the argument made by Forum 15 of the White House Conference on Children, among others, that child-labor laws ought to be revised to permit children "to become acquainted with the world of work and to participate in informal apprenticeship experiences." 1 , 1 6 Such work involvements would also entail changes in current conceptions of school curricula and compulsory-education laws.…”

Sex, Sexuality, Sexual Offending and the Rights of Persons with Mental Disabilities

“…35 Id. 36 On similar incorrect presumptions of incompetency in the law, see e.g., Rodham (1973) (presumed incompetency in children); Lucas (2013) (presumed physical incompetency of pregnant teachers). On how lawyers often impermissibly engage in such a presumption of incompetency with regard to their institutionalized clients, see Perlin (2008, p. 262).…”

Les droits de l’enfant. Genèse, institutionnalisation et diffusion (1924-1989)

“…Le processus de rédaction de la Convention relative aux droits de l'enfant démarre en 1980 ; les problématiques qui s'y rapportent gagnent en importance et en visibilité dans les sphères académiques à cette période. Les publications fédératrices, à l'instar de celles de Rodham (1973), de Freeman (1981de Freeman ( , 1986) ou de Eekelaar (1986), sont essentiellement l'oeuvre de juristes qui étudient les évolutions du statut légal des enfants et la façon de concilier des doctrines parfois contradictoires, induites par la rencontre entre le principe d'intérêt supérieur de l'enfant et les libertés fondamentales qui lui sont progressivement reconnues (expression, pensée, religion, etc.). D'autres contributions, telles que celles de Hawes (1991), Margolin (1978) ou Veerman (1992), qui portent plus spécifiquement sur les dimensions sociales du mouvement des droits de l'enfant ou de l'image de l'enfant, permettent aussi de faire une place à la thématique dans les milieux académiques.…”