‘Playing to survive’; street-connected children and the right to play in Bangladesh and Nepal

This article considers conceptualisations of play through the lens of street-connected children in Asia (specifically Bangladesh and Nepal). For the young people discussed in this article – children who live on the streets - play forms an important and varied role in their lives. However, play is also inextricably linked to navigating lives and livelihoods, mitigating risk and survival. The article demonstrates how street-connected children face unique challenges in accessing their right to play, including a failure of states to uphold this fundamental human right, the implications of which are discussed.