ABSTRACT
This concluding chapter explores the future directions of Critical Children’s Rights Studies by assessing the five-pronged framework developed in the volume. The framework includes deconstructing dominant discourses, constructing alternative pathways, considering situatedness, acknowledging scholars’ positionality, and remaining critical of the critical perspective itself. The chapter identifies uneven engagement with these themes across contributions, emphasizing the need for deeper conceptualizations of alternative rights frameworks. It also highlights the importance of drawing ethical boundaries within critical children’s rights discourses, particularly in distinguishing between tolerable and intolerable practices. Additionally, it calls for greater dialogue between critical and mainstream children’s rights scholars, engagement with policymakers and practitioners, and the decolonization of knowledge production. Finally, it stresses the necessity of interdisciplinary approaches and transnational collaboration to address emerging challenges in children’s rights. The chapter underscores the urgency of maintaining critical engagement while fostering practical pathways for transformation in children’s rights scholarship.
