Abstract
In French child protection policy, children are regarded more as objects to be protected than as subjects of rights. Nevertheless, the status of children in care has evolved considerably with the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC 1989). The UNCRC requires that children shall be consulted on any decisions concerning them, including placements and the care they receive. In France, the Child Protection Reform Law of March 5, 2007 sets out a number of specific rights for children living in care, such as the right to take part in the assessment process. But there is a huge gap between the formal rights of the child to be heard in assessment processes and the opportunities to actually exercise those rights. Our empirical study shows that in a highly constrained and descending participatory context there is little possibility for children to take part in decisions regarding their case. Nevertheless, opportunities for children to participate in the assessment of their situation can increase through interaction with individual factors and social factors. This study empirically shows the interlinkages, interconnections, and complementarity of individual features and social opportunities in decision-making processes in care. It also points out that participation is a non-linear process that is cumulative but also retroactive.
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Notes
- 1.
In French administrative organisation the “departments” are in charge of child protection. The “department” (ie Province) is a local authority between the region and the town council.
- 2.
The phrase was originally used in the ex-Soviet republics to describe the movement of people faced with a lack of political democracy.
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Robin, P. (2014). The Participation of Children in Care in the Assessment Process. In: Stoecklin, D., Bonvin, JM. (eds) Children’s Rights and the Capability Approach. Children’s Well-Being: Indicators and Research, vol 8. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9091-8_10
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