Children and the European Court of Human Rights

The European Convention on Human Rights is one of the most influential human rights documents in existence, in terms of its scope, impact, and jurisdiction. Yet it was not drafted with children, let alone children's rights, in mind. Nevertheless, the European Court of Human Rights has developed a large body of jurisprudence regarding children, ranging from areas such as juvenile justice and immigration, to education and religion, and the protection of physical integrity. Its influence in the sphere of family law has been profound, in particular in the attribution of parenthood, and in cases concerning child abduction, child protection, and adoption. This book provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of the jurisprudence of the Court as it relates to children, highlighting its many achievements in this field, while also critiquing its ongoing weaknesses. In doing so, it tracks the evolution of the Court's treatment of children's rights, from its inauspicious and paternalistic beginnings to an emerging recognition of children's individual agency.

1 - Introduction
2 - Freedom from Violence and Exploitation
3 - The Right to Respect for Private Life
4 - Juvenile Justice
5 - Children and the Immigration System
6 - The Right to Education
7 - Social and Economic Rights
8 - Family Formation and Parenthood
9 - Private Law Child Disputes
10 - Child Protection
11 - Adoption
12 - Conclusions

Claire Fenton-Glynn is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Cambridge. Her research lies in the field of human rights, and in particular, the way in which international and regional human rights mechanisms protect and promote the rights of children. She is an Associate Tenant at Harcourt Chambers, and an Academic Fellow of Inner Temple, and has worked as a consultant for organizations such as the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union on issues concerning human rights and child protection. Her first book, 'Children's Rights in Intercountry Adoption' was awarded the 2015 Inner Temple Book Prize for New Authors.