Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

• Understand and describe children’s rights based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
• Perceive the rights of the child as inalienable and interdependent
• Understand and describe the fundamental principles of the International Convention on the rights of the child and their interdependence.
• Connect the perspective of the rights of the child with the other subjects of their Curriculum.
• Advocate for the assumption of the corresponding responsibility by the competent state bodies, organizations (including schools, educational institutions and psychosocial support bodies), as well as professionals for the defense of the rights of the child in general and of children with disabilities in particular.
• Understand and be able to apply in their future professional career the provisions specifically of Article 23 of the CRC for Children with Disabilities.
• Collect data and documentation about children in general and of children with disabilities.
• Identify cases of violation of the Rights of the Child, as well as to plan and act for their protection, as well as that of children with disabilities.

• Data search, analysis, and synthesis.
• Promotion of free, critical, creative and inductive thinking
• Generation of new research ideas
• Inquiry thinking, observation, and critical analysis of data
• Decision-making and taking responsibility and action
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Mediation and negotiation
• Empathy and critical awareness of personal beliefs and mental schemas
• Demonstration of social, professional and ethical responsibility

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the basic concepts of the Rights of the Child, as described in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. In this context, they will become familiar with key milestones in the historical development of the concept of childhood and child rights, and how they have influenced both perceptions and social practices and policies regarding the child. The transition from treating the child as an object of protection to a subject of rights and the concept of child autonomy will be analyzed. The provisions of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child and the interconnection of its different articles with its Fundamental-Guiding Principles will be analyzed. In particular, the interconnection of the Fundamental-Guiding Principles of the CRC with the content and provisions of Article 23, which refers to Children with Disabilities, will be analyzed, and implementation measures and cases of violation of the rights of Children with Disabilities will be examined.

The course is developed in 13 lessons.

• The concept of child rights and the related debate
• Child rights and human rights.
• Historical development of perspectives on childhood and child rights
• The International Convention on the Rights of the Child
• The Fundamental - Guiding Principles of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
• The interdependence of the different Articles and provisions of the CRC and their connection
• with the Fundamental Guiding Principles of the CRC.
• Responsibilities and accountability for the implementation of the CRC with a focus on the best interests of the child: State, public bodies, professionals, and children as rights holders.
• The CRC in the Greek reality: ratification and implementation challenges
• The concluding observations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.
• The rights of children with disabilities. Prospects, implementation, challenges.
• The concluding observations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Children with Disabilities in Greece.
• Research and documentation for the implementation of Article 23.
• The Centers for Children's Rights in Greek Universities and the planning of interventions for the protection of Children's Rights

Final exam at the end of the semester (40% of the total grade). The exam will include development questions regarding the rights of the child or short-answer and/or closed-ended questions (e.g. multiple-choice). Two group or individual assignments on cases involving violations of the rights of the child (60% of the total grade, 30% each)

Books

• Φασούλης, Β. (2016). Τα Δικαιώματα του Παιδιού. Ιστορική Διάσταση, Σύγχρονη Εξέλιξη και η Διεθνής Σύμβαση για τα Δικαιώματα του Παιδιού. Εκδόσεις Παπαζήση.
• Unicef. (1989). Convention for the child rights. https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention
• Council of Europe. (2022, December). Council of Europe publishes guidance on how to better protect children against sexual exploitation and abuse in crisis and emergency situations. https://www.coe.int/en/web/children/-/council-of-europe-publishes-guidance-on-how-to-better-protect-children-against-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse-in-crisis-and-emergency-situations-1?redirect=%2Fen%2Fweb%2Fchildren%2Fthe-united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child
• Council of Europe. Children with disabilities.  https://www.coe.int/en/web/children/children-with-disabilities
• Council of Europe. Persons with disabilities.  https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/thematic-work/persons-with-disabilities
• Council of the European Union. (2011). Council conclusions on early detection and treatment of communication disorders in children, including the use  of e-Health tools and innovative solutions. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/lsa/1…;

Related scientific journals

• The International Journal of Children's Rights