The journal Law, Social Justice and Global Development seeks submissions for peer-reviewed and non-refereed articles for publication in a forthcoming special issue on Child Rights, Law and Emerging Challenges. This special issue of the LGD will be edited by Professor Asha Bajpai of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Center for Socio Legal Studies and Human Rights, Mumbai, India and will focus on the impact of globalization on child rights.

The twenty-first century increasingly marks the free movement of merchandise and capital across national boundaries, with all countries bound together by global markets. The rapid growth of private capital flows over the past decade, presents an opportunity for poor and developing countries to access a global pool of savings, technology and management skills; but at the same time it presents new policy challenges in terms of securing sustainable development and poverty reduction. Globalization has powerful economic, political, cultural and social dimensions as, on one hand, it has opened up enormous opportunities; but on the other hand, it has not been able to spread these opportunities equitably among all social strata .This has resulted, in several cases and especially in developing countries, in a renunciation of state responsibility or the retreat of the state from the provision of public service towards the welfare of its disadvantaged citizens like children.The world’s children have by far the largest stake in the effects of globalization because of their vulnerability, distinctive needs and status.For example, reduction in the social sector services such as health, education and poverty alleviation programmes has strong links with child protection, survival and development and has raised several concerns about the impact of globalization on children. Will globalization continue to benefit mainly the children of a few social groups and countries? What isthe relationship between financial crises associated with foreign capital flows on the one hand and the wellbeing of children in emerging market countries on the other? What is the role of international organisations and legal instruments in making states children sensitive? How can state parties be more effective in complying with these standards? How, and in what varied ways can we put children at the centre of improved governance and realisation of child rights and bring about effective “participation”?

There is a clear need to examine globalization and its impact from a child rights perspective. This special issue will critically re-examine the current theory, law, policy and practice of child rights and the potential for more child sensitive globalization. There is in particular the need to consider the potential for concurrent action on domestic and international fronts, comprising policy changes, specific child-focused programmes, and child sensitive laws and initiatives. In this respect the Convention constitutes a benchmark, yet it is also necessary to question whether the Convention and its implementation produce social justice for children.

The main objectives of the issue will be:

• Exploration of the impact of globalization on children and analysis of the impact of contemporary global economic and legal policies and practices on child rights
• Examination of best practices by government and civil society in different countries and societies to overcome the negative impact of globalization on children
• Consideration of recommendations for strong public policies, legislation, programmes, practices and schemes for children with a rights-based approach, with particular reference to the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Promotion of international, comparative and global research, advocacy, law reform and policy initiatives on child rights
• Opening up a global discussion on ‘children, development and governance’ from a child rights perspective
• Research, advocacy, education and policy engagement on child rights

Contributions are welcome on any topics related to the theme of childrens’ rights, law and global development including the following indicative examples:

• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its international, national and local implementation
• Child and Childhood
• Rethinking child protection from a rights perspective
• Theorization of children's rights
• Child friendly governance systems
• Children and Social Exclusion
• Children and development: rights globalization and poverty
• Trafficking, Migration and Forced Labour and Children
• Children in Conflict Situations
• Child Care and Child Protection in Globalizing Economies
• Child Labour and Education of Children
• The governance of orphaned Children
• Globalization, Sexual Abuse of Children, Child Pornography and Paedophilia on the Internet
• Globalization and Child Nutrition and Health
• Children and the Media

The LGD especially welcomes contributions from scholars, child rights advocates, researchers, practitioners, activists and other professionals working in the area of children,in developing countries, transitional economies and international organisations. Contributors are encouraged to refer to our section of Journal Scope and Submission Standards for more information on the scope of the journal and citation and article format details.

Full papers must be submitted for peer review before 14 February 2010. Please note that each paper will be reviewed by two referees in the field of the paper’s subject matter. Submissions of articles on the above topics for publication as non-refereed pieces are also welcome. These should take the form of commentaries, reports on contemporary developments and/or recently-held conferences and events, case summaries and analyses, and book reviews. Non-refereed papers should be submitted by 15 March 2010.

Anyone interested in submitting an article and wishing to clarify substantive issues relating to the scope of the article should contact Prof. Asha Bajpai at bajpaiasha@gmail.com. For all other inquiries, please contact Sabrina Zheng at lgd@warwick.ac.uk. Articles may be sent via email to: lgd@warwick.ac.uk.