A comparison of child protection systems in the Greater Region: Implementing the UN convention on the rights of the child through narrow and broad understandings

Abstract

The article examines child protection systems in the Greater Region with an eye to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its implementation. Our analysis employs the distinction between a narrow and broad understanding of child protection. While the narrow understanding primarily emphasizes child protection, the broad understanding of child protection also considers children’s rights, particularly the right to participation. We observe an expansion of responsibilities across the child protection systems of the Greater Region, which aims to better integrate, not only traditional child protection measures, but also children’s rights. This marks a broadened interpretation of the UNCRC.