A Framework for Implementing the Right of the Child to Play: Space, Time, Acceptance, Rights-Informed

Abstract

The Committee on the Rights of the Child acknowledges that children's urge to play is compelling, even 'in the most unfavourable environments' (GC 17). Yet, the obligations placed on States to realise and implement the right to play show that abandoning children to fulfil their right to play on their own is not sufficient. Rather, States have a variety of multifaceted obligations that must met in order to ensure that the right to play is fully realised. Following doctrinal, empirical, and archival research, and interdisciplinary literature analysis, into the nature and content of the right to play, a framework for realising the right to play emerged that is able to encompass many of these obligations. This framework includes four core components: space, time, acceptance, rights-informed. This paper develops each aspect of this framework, and discusses how such a framework relates to, and fits within, the children's rights rubric. Discussions with those involved in play advocacy suggests that such a framework will be beneficial for supporting greater implementation of the child's right to play in practice, as well as deeper understanding of the content of the right.

Keywords: Right to Play, Children’s Rights, Rights Implementation, 3AQ, Space, Time, Acceptance, Rights-based, Framework for operationalising rights