The Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Vulnerability of Children

Children share a universal vulnerability with other human beings, yet have a particular vulnerability as children and even more so as being individually positioned within that group. In this article the Convention on the Rights of the Child ( crc ) and the jurisprudence of the Committee on the Rights of the Child are analysed in the light of vulnerability theory. The article questions the theory’s view of non-discrimination as a solely individualized approach, as well as its reluctance to designate vulnerable groups of children. The geography of vulnerability is considered in relation to children migrating or being displaced, and general measures of implementation are related to the need for societal institutions to meet children’s vulnerability. The article concludes by focusing on the enhancement of children’s participation in society as a necessary response to their vulnerability.