ABSTRACT
In this chapter, children’s rights are analyzed through the lens of social constructivism. Drawing on social movement studies, a capita selecta of key events and activities that have played a significant role in the origins of, and developments in, the children’s rights movement in Flanders (Belgium) are examined. By analyzing three distinct time periods in which the Flemish children’s rights movement emerged and evolved, we highlight various dimensions of the social construction process of children’s rights. Based on this enquiry, a social constructivist ontology of children’s rights is proposed, characterized by three main features: i) children’s rights are contextually constructed; ii) the social construction process of children’s rights is essentially political; and iii) the social construction process of children’s rights is deeply discursive. Through this framework, we aim to contribute to the ongoing development of Critical Children’s Rights Studies.
