Advocates the use of human rights law to combat child poverty, suggesting that such protection will naturally extend to families and communities. The global nature of the problem is outlined. It is argued that the idea of “generations of rights” inhibits the ability to confront child poverty, contending that the effectiveness of rights is weakened by undermining their indivisibility across generations. Further, the theory of generations of rights overemphasizes differences between two of its aspects – (1) economic, social, and cultural rights; and (2) civil and political rights – at the expense of similarities and symbiosis – and fosters the idea that civil and political rights can be traded to pay for economic and social rights. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) sought to integrate these rights, pursuing a holistic approach. The CRC is examined holistically in terms of the four complementary principles of participation, prevention, provision, and protection; the underlying principle of nondiscrimination is noted. Problems surrounding the term “progressive” implementation of rights, as well as the idea of justiciability, are addressed. The importance of a responsive judiciary and compassionate legal profession are elucidated, and the responsibility of national parliaments is outlined.
