The Privatissimum on International Children’s Rights Law is a short but intense course that aims to equip students with legal research and writing skills, while also introducing children’s rights law as a distinct branch of international human rights law. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) entered into force in 1990, and to this day remains the most widely ratified international human rights treaty in the world. It is also the most comprehensive human rights instrument, enshrining civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights alongside a unique set of protections specific to children that enable their realization of rights under international law. However, whether a child should be able to independently exercise rights within the family remains contentious, and the extent to which children are enabled and empowered as rights-holders in their everyday lives is increasingly challenged in a rapidly changing world.
Course Objectives
This course has two objectives. First, as a privatissimum course, its aim is to build-up and strengthen students’ legal research and writing skills in the field of international human rights law. Second, as an introductory course on international children’s rights law, it provides a foundation in children’s rights, laying out key concepts and unique dimensions that set the UNCRC apart from the other branches of international human rights law. It also highlights and draws out some of the tensions and challenges surrounding children’s exercise of rights within the family and in their everyday lives. It should be noted that because this course is structured as a ‘privatissimum’, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive or in-depth examination of children’s rights. Its aim is to give students a ‘high-level’ understanding of children’s rights, as a distinct branch of international human rights law.
Over the course of four weeks, students will work in groups and individually to unravel legal questions related to children’s rights. Students will be expected to conduct their own research, identify relevant legal sources (primary and secondary), and produce original legal analysis that not only addresses a particular legal question, but also reflects an understanding of the key concepts in children’s rights law.
Mode of Instruction
The course will be delivered through a series of interactive sessions over a three-week period.
During the course, students will be asked to complete three legal writing/research assignments on children’s rights. The first and second assignments will be group-based while the third assignment will be completed individually. The first two assignments will be due ahead of session. The third assignment (an individual research paper) will be due ten days after the final session and may be completed remotely.
Assessment method
Students will be evaluated through a combination of oral (in-class assignments) and written assessments:
Assignment #1 (group paper): 15% of final grade
Assignment #2 (group paper): 15% of final grade
Assignment #3 (individual final paper): 60% of final grade
In-class participation: 10% of final grade
Reading list
Literature:
To be announced.
Contact Information
Dr. Sheila Varadan (Course Coordinator), Assistant Professor of Children’s Rights and Global Health, Child Law Department, Institute of Private Law, Leiden Law School, KOG Steenschuur 25, s.r.varadan@law.leidenuniv.nl
Prof. Dr. Ton Liefaard, Professor of Law/UNICEF Chair of Children’s Rights, Child Law Department, Institute of Private Law, Leiden Law School, KOG, Steenschuur 25, t.liefaard@law.leidenuniv.nl
Elias Tissandier, PhD Candidate, Leiden Law School, KOG Steenschuur25, e.t.n.tissandier@law.leidenuniv.nl
Institution/division
Institute: Public law
Administration advanced masters: BIO
Email: humanrights@law.leidenuniv.nl
Disclaimer
Currently these pages are being updated to reflect the courses for 2025 - 2026. Until these pages are fixed as per 1 September 2025 no rights can be claimed from the information which is currently contained within.
Should there be any future extenuating circumstances which may impinge our teaching and assessment, these could necessitate modification of the course descriptions after 1 September. This will only happen in the event of strict necessity and the interests of the students will be taken into account. Should there be a need for any change during the course, this will be informed to all students on a timely basis. Modifications after 1 September 2025 may only be done with the approval and consent of the Faculty Board and Programme Director.