Expanding the Framework of Family Issues: Bringing Children’s Rights and Children’s Perspectives into Immigration

17 Pages Posted: 10 Apr 2020 Last revised: 15 Jul 2020

See all articles by Nancy E. Dowd

Nancy E. Dowd

University of Florida Levin College of Law

Date Written: 2020

Abstract

Family law, and the systems with which families interact, and child law or children’s rights, are typically viewed as separate legal subjects or categories. This essay challenges that separation and its consequences for family issues, arguing that family law and the systems with which families interact would benefit from a stronger infusion of children’s perspectives, interests and rights. One benefit would be a stronger structural or systemic focus to family law, reflecting the responsibilities of the State for children in the form of positive socio-economic supports for systems of health, education, housing and employment that are critical to children’s development. Through the example of immigrant children and their families, the essay explores the potential structural impact of children’s rights and perspectives in order to illustrate how a child rights perspective would affect the content and implementation of law and policy.

Keywords: children’s rights, family law, immigration

Suggested Citation

Dowd, Nancy Elizabeth, Expanding the Framework of Family Issues: Bringing Children’s Rights and Children’s Perspectives into Immigration (2020). 7 Oslo L. Rev. 6 (2020), University of Florida Levin College of Law Research Paper No. 20-19, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3555113

Nancy Elizabeth Dowd (Contact Author)

University of Florida Levin College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 117625
Gainesville, FL 32611-7625
United States
352-273-0930 (Phone)
352-392-3005 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.ufl.edu/faculty/nancy-e-dowd

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