Advancing a Child Rights Informed Approach to Antislavery Policy and Practice: A Systematic Review of Literature at the Intersection of Children's Rights and Modern Slavery

Abstract

This study examines the intersections between children’s rights and modern slavery literature to identify gaps in theory and understanding between the two fields, how the two fields can inform each other, and what aspects of children’s rights practice are deemed crucial to countering modern slavery and child labour. The review shows that there is considerable value in meaningful interaction between the two fields of modern slavery and children’s rights research, yet this is not currently common practice in academic literature. It reveals tensions between the two fields, particularly in relation to children’s agency, as well as areas of agreement. It highlights the potential benefits of greater engagement between the two fields of research for both modern slavery and children’s rights legislation, policies, theory, and practices. The review provides an in-depth examination and synthesis of literature at the nexus of children’s rights and modern slavery.

Keywords: child rights, children's rights, modern slavery, antislavery, human trafficking, forced labour, child labour