Nordic reflections on child rights and childhood: realising sustainability?

The book examines childhood cultures and children’s rights in action towards sustainability. It begins by critically addressing the debate on ‘ideals espoused’ in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in the context of the shocking reality of the everyday suffering of millions of children caused by ‘political calculation’. This uncomfortable paradox continues to be examined through the introductory and second chapters, which argue for a reconceptualisation of the child that reflects cultural diversity and ‘an entirely new range of childhood experiences’ in the modern world (p. 2). This overarching theme is shared by all contributors; to understand children is to also understand the complex contexts in which they live. Equally important is the necessity to position the child as both a ‘being’ and a ‘becoming’, in order to increase his/her agency and authentic enjoyment of rights. The collection mounts a considerable challenge to the idea that rights are universal solutions. It is rather through transformative transdisciplinary research that recognises the ambivalences in childhood cultures, underpinned by respect for children’s expertise regarding their own lives that would more effectively correlate with choices that are in their individual best interests.