International Law and Children's Rights (LAWS70120)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
October
Teaching staff:
John Tobin (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | October |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Issues concerning children, whether they arise at the international, regional or local level, are increasingly being examined from a human rights perspective. Much of the momentum for this movement has been generated by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989, and has been ratified by every state in the world except the United States and South Sudan. This subject is designed to provide students with an understanding of the CRC and the idea of a human rights-based approach to matters involving children. It will be of interest to anyone who works in areas that impact on children, either directly or indirectly, at the international, regional or local level. The lecturer has extensive networks with civil society, international bodies and government agencies that he draws on to provide an appropriate blend of academic and practical content.
The subject consists of two parts. Part one involves a general discussion of:
- The notion of children’s rights
- The international framework for the protection of children’s rights, with particular emphasis on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
- The factors that impact on the implementation of the Convention, both in Australia and overseas.
Part two involves an examination of specific issues relevant to children and how the Convention and a rights-based analysis can be used to respond to these issues. The issues will be drawn from areas such as:
- Sexual exploitation, including trafficking, prostitution and pornography
- Child labour
- Juvenile justice
- Child refugees
- Violence against children
- Children in armed conflict
- HIV/AIDS and children
- Child poverty and homelessness.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Have an advanced and integrated understanding of the relevant international laws, processes and systems relating to children's rights and their status under both international and domestic law
- Be able to critically examine, analyse, interpret and assess the effectiveness of these legal rules, processes and systems
- Be an engaged participant in debate regarding emerging and contemporary issues in the field of children's rights, in areas such as child labour, the alleviation of child poverty, the sexual exploitation of children, the impact of armed conflict on children and violence against children
- Have a sophisticated appreciation of the factors and processes driving engagement and implementation of children's rights
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to generate critical and creative ideas relating to the concept of children's rights and its application to a range of issues concerning children
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to independently examine, research and analyse existing and emerging legal issues relating children's rights
- Have the communication skills to clearly articulate and convey complex information regarding children's rights to relevant specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Be able demonstrate autonomy, expert judgment and responsibility as a practitioner and learner in the field of children's rights.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Option 1: Take-home examination
| 28 November - 1 December 2025 | 100% |
Option 2: Research paper on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
| 17 December 2025 | 100% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance is required. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Students must choose assessment from the options listed above. If an option contains parts, all parts must be completed if that option is chosen.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- October
Principal coordinator John Tobin Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 34 Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 17 September 2025 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 15 October 2025 to 21 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 22 September 2025 Census date 17 October 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 28 November 2025 Assessment period ends 2 January 2026 October contact information
Teaching staff:
John Tobin (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters enrolment webpage for further information about re-enrolment, subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If subject coordinator approval is required, or for further information about Community Access Program study, please contact us
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025