Children’s Rights and the Vulnerability of the Child (Jonathan Herring)

The Oxford Children’s Rights Network invites you to join us for a lunch time seminar with Jonathan Herring, Professor of Law at the University of Oxford.

Abstract:
Those who argue that children should not have the same rights as adults typically emphasise the vulnerability of children. It is commonly argued that their vulnerability provides a powerful reason why children need to be protected from harms in ways adults do not. Supporters of the claim that children should have equal rights to adults typically respond by challenging the claim that children are especially vulnerable, arguing that children are far more autonomous than is commonly assumed. In this paper I will argue that a more convincing response is not that children are less vulnerable than is commonly assumed, but rather that adults are more vulnerable than is commonly assumed. In short, the case for equal rights for all people, is better premised on the claim we should treat adults like children, than on the claim we should treat children like adults.

Jonathan Herring has written extensively on criminal, family and medical law and has recently analyzed legal disputes over contact between children and parents and issues surrounding children’s rights.

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RSVP is kindly requested for catering purposes; please visit http://bit.ly/ocrnlunch to indicate your attendance and preferences. To guarantee lunch, please ensure you fill in this form no later than 12PM the day before (for Thursday seminars) or 12PM the Friday before (for Monday seminars).