ABSTRACT
With a critical look at the paternalistic pattern of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its understanding of childhood and law, the chapter explains why children’s rights must be reconceptualized to do justice to the interests and experiences of socially disadvantaged and marginalized children. To this end, it draws on the legal-philosophical and legal discussion on counter-rights and makes it clear why this is also relevant for children. With reference to examples from the movements of working children in the Global South, the chapter illustrates possible alternative contours of children’s rights that emerge from children’s self-perception and actions. After setting out the basic lines of the concept of counter-rights, the chapter discusses some of the challenges associated with counter-rights and shows how they could be addressed.
