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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL/LAW 355"
COURSE NAME: "International Children's Rights"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2026
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Michele Riondino
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: PL/LAW 230 and/or PL/LAW 320 recommended
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course offers a comprehensive examination of children's rights, focusing on their birth, and development and on the legal frameworks that promote them at the international level. Students explore the historical, political and legal dimensions of children's rights, with particular attention to key international conventions and treaties. The course addresses significant issues such as child protection, violence against children, childhood in the digital age, child labor, inter-country adoptions, child sexual exploitation and educational rights. The course provides students with the tools to critically assess and engage with policies and legal practices affecting children and their rights.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course is designed to offer a comprehensive exploration of children's rights, combining theoretical foundations with practical applications to provide students with a holistic understanding of the subject. The course will begin by examining the historical evolution of children's rights and the construction of "the child" in both legal and social contexts. From there, it will explore the key international legal instruments and conventions that define and protect children's rights, particularly the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols. 

Students will also analyze the various actors involved in child protection, including governments, international organizations and religious institutions. 

The course will then proceed to address core issues such as violence against children, the right to education, and child justice, offering insight into the legal responses and strategies aimed at protecting children’s rights in diverse contexts.

Central research questions to be addressed in the course include:

  • How have children’s rights evolved, and what is the role of international conventions in shaping global standards for their protection?

  • What are the primary causes and consequences of violence against children, and how do international frameworks address this issue?

  • How do international legal systems protect children’s rights, and what mechanisms are in place to ensure accountability when these rights are violated?
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Understand the evolution and legal construction of children’s rights within various legal and social frameworks.

  • Analyze the international legal instruments, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and their role in safeguarding children’s rights globally.

  • Critically assess child protection mechanisms, including how violence against children is addressed and prevented by different legal systems.

  • Examine the role of some religious systems in protecting children's rights, comparing it with international frameworks.

  • Apply legal concepts and rights-based approaches to real-world situations involving children's rights in areas such as education and justice.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Mid-term examEssay questions - in class, the students will answer to 3 open questions on the first part of the program. Each answer will not exceed approximately 500 words.30%
Final examEssay questions - The students will prepare an essay at home (maximum 2000 words) demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the core principles of the course and its main contents. 30%
ProjectOral Presentation - the students will choose one specific topic (or case study) and prepare an oral presentation. they will be able to discuss the topic, lead the conversation, and also present the relevant bibliographical references on that. 30%
Class participationAttendance is compulsory & students shall contribute to class discussions. 10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is compulsory. Students are expected to attend classes regularly, to read assigned reading materials before each class and to contribute to class discussions. Students have at their disposal a maximum of 3 unexcused absences throughout the semester. Additional absences will have to be justified by the Dean’s Office or the student will be penalized with an F grade being recorded for class participation.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

 

WEEK

 

TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED

 

READING ASSIGNMENTS*

 

DEADLINES

Week 1

Introduction to the Course.

 

An introduction to children’s rights and construction of “the child”

 

 

 

Ch.1

 

Week 2

Historical overview of children’s rights.


The theoretical basis of children’s rights

  • Convention(s)

 

 

Ch.2



“Protection of children’s rights in the international community and the Catholic Church: a comparative analysis” pp. 987 - 1000

 

Week 3

The UN Convention on the Right of the Child (CRC).


Its origin, development and implementation

 

Ch.3

 

“Protection of children’s rights in the international community and the Catholic Church: a comparative analysis” pp. 1000 -1007

 

Week 4

Explanation and Analysis of some key sections of the CRC

 

Ch.3 (7.1 - 7.2 - 7.3)

 

 

Week 5

Explanation and Analysis of some key sections of the CRC

Ch.3.(7.4 -7.5 - 7.6 - 7.7)

 

Week 6

Explanation and Analysis of some key sections of the CRC

Ch.3(7.8 - 7.9)


“the right to education: a fundamental and universal right”, JUS LXIII (2016) pp.287-300

 

Week 7

 

Review Session


 

MID-TERM EXAM



 

 

 

Week 8

The Optional Protocols

  • THE INVOLVEMENT OF CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT

  • ON A COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURE

  • ON THE SALE OF CHILDREN, CHILD PROSTITUTION, AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

 

  • Ch.3.6


  • Revaz, C. R. (2001). The optional protocols to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on Sex Trafficking and Child Soldiers. Human Rights Brief, 9(1), 4.

 

Week 9

 

Inter-country adoption

Ch.7

 

Week 10

Child Labor

Ch.5



‘The 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Child Labour exploitation’ (2020) 9 E-Journal of International Comparative Labour Studies, pp. 90-96.

Week 11

Children ‘s rights in the European legal context


European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights *

Strasbourg, 25.I.1996

Handbook on European law relating to the right of the child (2022 edition) - Ch.1

 

Week 12

Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual

Exploitation and Sexual Abuse *

Lanzarote, 25.X.2007

  • “protection of children’s rights in the international community and the Catholic Church: a comparative analysis” pp. 1007- 1011


  • Pavlović, Z., & Paunović, N. (2020). Protection of Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation in International, European and National Legal Framework. THE RIGHT TO HUMAN DIGNITY, pp.317-325

 

Week 13

Childhood in the digital era

  • risk-based approach

Ch.4

 

Week 14

Final exam - oral presentation