Children’s Rights
Funding
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) (2015-2016, 2016-2018, 2021-2028)
Ontario Research Fund - Research Excellence (ORF-RE) (2023-2028)
Co-researchers
Tara Collins (PI, Toronto Metropolitan University), Natasha Blanchet-Cohen (Concordia University), Patricio Cuevas-Parra (University of Edinburgh), Lucy Jamieson (University of Cape Town), Irene Rizzini (Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro), Mónica Ruiz-Casares (Toronto Metropolitan University), Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh), Laura Wright (University of Edinburgh)
Summary
Established in 2015, the International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership (ICCRP) aims to deepen the understanding of the relationship between children’s rights to participation and protection. The partnership unites young people with personal experience, 40 researchers, and 30 partner organizations, including universities, NGOs, leading human rights institutions, and governments from Canada, the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The ICCRP’s initiatives are guided by an Intergenerational Advisory Committee and an international Steering Committee.
ICCRP strives to explore how intergenerational relationships impact, challenge, and overcome barriers to realizing child rights. This involves expanding conceptual models for intergenerational partnerships, examining processes that foster such partnerships to support child rights including youth activism, and identifying and developing relational practices (i.e., intergenerational, decolonial, cross-national, cross-cultural, and ethical) that can enhance research, public policy, and practice related to child rights. Additionally, ICCRP analyzes child rights education environments to assess how they facilitate or hinder children's understanding of their rights and the effectiveness of intergenerational partnerships.
Guided by relational child rights and decolonization theories, along with new ethical frameworks, mixed-method case studies are conducted to analyze existing innovative initiatives. The diverse selection of countries and case studies will highlight both commonalities and unique features across different contexts and geographies. The study’s findings aim to offer valuable insights into participatory methodologies, ethics, policy, and conceptual interconnections.
Selected Publications
Collins, T., Jamieson, L., Wright, L.H.V., Rizzini, I., Mayhew, A., Tisdall, A.K.M. & Ruiz-Casares, M. (2020). Involving child and youth advisors in academic research about child participation: The Child and Youth Advisory Committees of the International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership (external link) . Children and Youth Services Review, 109, 104569. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104569
Collins, T. M., Grover, S., Ruiz-Casares, M., & Tisdall, E. K. M. (2017). Special Issue: Facilitating Child Participation in International Child Protection. International Journal of Human Rights, 21(1).
Ruiz-Casares, M., Collins, T. M., Tisdall, E. K. M., & Grover, S. (2017). Children’s rights to participation and protection in international development and humanitarian interventions: nurturing a dialogue (external link) . The International Journal of Human Rights, 21(1), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/13642987.2016.1262520
For a complete list of publications, researchers/partners, and activities, please visit The International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership.
Funding
European Network of Foundations. Children & Violence Evaluation Challenge Fund (2016-2021)
Co-researchers
Mónica Ruiz-Casares (PI), Sarah Lilley (Save the Children), Nancy Mayo (McGill University/MUHC Research Institute), Robert W. Platt (McGill University), Susan Scott (McGill University/MUHC Research Institute), Brett Thombs (McGill University/Jewish General Hospital), Widjajanti Isdijoso (SMERU Research Institute), Emmy Hermanus (SMERU Research Institute).
Summary
This study (external link) assesses the effectiveness of an intervention designed to reduce violence against children under seven in select communities within Cianjur district, Indonesia. The intervention is based on Positive Discipline for Everyday Parenting, a program developed by Dr. Juan Durant and her team at the University of Manitoba in collaboration with Save the Children. The Families First Positive Discipline for Everyday Parenting with Home Visiting program in Indonesia aims to prevent corporal punishment of children through group sessions and home visits conducted by community facilitators.
Despite growing evidence from other regions that such interventions can reduce violence against children, there is a lack of evaluations of parenting education programs in middle-income countries, particularly for home visiting programs. Via a collaboration between the team at McGill University and the SMERU Research Institute in Jakarta, a mixed-method experimental study in real-world settings is conducted to evaluate this intervention. The findings aim to provide evidence on (a) the effectiveness of adding group and home visitation services in reducing incidents of violence against children aged 0 to 7 compared to standard community health and social services; (b) the child, family, and community factors that affect the implementation fidelity of the intervention; and (c) the satisfaction of community facilitators, families, and children with the program.
In this study, 20 rural and urban settlements, involving 736 caregivers of children up to 7 years of age, are randomized to two parallel arms. A delayed-entry, parallel-group, stratified, cluster-randomized controlled trial (CRCT) design is used to respond to the first study objective. A waitlist control design is adopted to reduce attrition so that everyone in the study will receive the intervention sooner or later. Families are assessed against the main outcomes at study entry, and 2.5 months and 9 months after group & home service begins. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods are used to generate evaluation data for primary and secondary outcomes as well as to map the causal chain. Individual and group interviews with caregivers, facilitators, mentors, program staff, and community leaders are built in to understand their experiences in the program and how service delivery, socio-economic, cultural, and other factors may impact the effectiveness and scalability of the intervention.
Selected Publications
Andrina, M., Nazif-Muñoz, J. I., Smith, R., Shirley, A., Sudrajat, T., Utami, A. Y., & Ruiz-Casares, M. (2024). Parental education and attitudes towards institutionalization of children in West Java, Indonesia (external link) . Child Protection and Practice, 3, 100072. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chipro.2024.100072
Ruiz-Casares, M., Thombs, B.D., Mayo, N, Scott, S, Andrina, M, Platt, R.W. (2022). The Families First Program to Prevent Child Abuse: Results of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial in West Java, Indonesia (external link) . Prevention Science, 23, 1457–1469 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-022-01433-w
Ruiz-Casares, M., Lilley, S., Thombs, B., Platt, R.W., Scott, S., Isdijoso, W., Hermanus, E., Andrina, M., & Mayo, N. (2019). Protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating a parenting with home visitation programme to prevent physical and emotional abuse of children in Indonesia: The Families First Programme. BMJ Open, 9(1), e021751. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-021751
Funding
USAID/Save the Children Fund (2011-2014)
Co-researchers
Mónica Ruiz-Casares (PI)
Summary
The 15-year civil conflict in Liberia resulted in the separation of many children from their parents, severely affecting their well-being and safety. Even after the conflict ended, many children were still placed in residential care and given up for adoption internationally. A mixed-method study aimed to document baseline information about the child protection challenges faced in communities post-conflict, and potential solutions to promote child protection and family reintegration.
The key informant interviews with representatives from the Government of Liberia, the UN, I/NGOs, and donor agencies, as well as focus group discussions with male and female caregivers and children in both family- and institutional-based care in urban and rural settings, was done to assess caregivers and children awareness of child protection risks in their communities. Findings indicate gaps in knowledge regarding positive and negative attitudes toward child protection. This underscores the need to raise awareness, foster a supportive environment, and strengthen legal and policy frameworks alongside community-based services.
Similarly, a survey of 1,157 child caregivers from 12 districts in Liberia reveals that knowledge of alternative care options and adoption is limited and varies significantly by region. While there is a strong willingness to foster children and place them with relatives, non-relatives, or in orphanages, particularly in rural areas, financial hardship is a major factor driving child separation. This highlights the need for the development and ongoing evaluation of regulatory frameworks and public awareness initiatives, tailored to address parent-child separations.
Young children’s perceptions of child protection and risk in a post-conflict setting highlight the importance of considering children’s life experiences when developing and evaluating services. Through group discussions using visual methodologies, children living in family and residential care share their views on various risks, such as unmet basic needs, violence, harsh disciplinary practices, substance use, and child labor. They also identify protective factors, including access to food, clothing, transportation, healthcare, and education; opportunities to engage in play, music, sports, and religious activities; helping parents at home; and experiencing positive interactions with parents, such as playing, joking, reading, and showing affection.
Selected Publications
Ruiz-Casares, M., Steele, R., Bangura, R., and Oyat, G. (2017). Preventing Parent-Child Separation: Myths and Facts from a KAP Survey in Central and Western Liberia (external link) . Global Social Welfare, 4(4), 219-231. doi:10.1007/s40609-017-0090-8
Ruiz-Casares, M., Rousseau, D., Morlu, J., and Browne, C. (2013). Eliciting Children’s Perspectives of Risk and Protection: How To Do It and Why Does It Matter (external link) . Child and Youth Care Forum, 42, 425 – 437. DOI 10.1007/s10566-013-9208-z.
Ruiz-Casares, M. (2011). Child Protection Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Central and Western Liberia. Monrovia, Liberia: Save the Children and USAID (external link) .
Funding
Save the Children Fund (2012-2013)
Co-researchers
Mónica Ruiz-Casares (PI), Saithong Phommavong (National University of Laos)
Summary
This study explores factors affecting parental and alternative childcare in Luang Prabang and Xayabury provinces in Northern Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR). More specifically it aims to document family and community efforts to prevent parental separation, encourage parental care, and facilitate family reunification. Additionally, the study evaluates alternative care options for children who have been separated from, abandoned by, or relinquished by their parents in these areas.
Data is gathered through individual interviews and group discussions with both adults and children in family-based and residential care settings. Perspectives from child protection agency members are collected via an online survey. Additionally, case studies featured children invited to participate in a photo-voice activity to share their views.
Findings reveal that in Lao P.D.R., family and community networks often step in to care for children when parents are unable to do so. Extended families or neighbors, particularly in urban areas, offer support, allowing children to live and continue their education. Local authorities may also coordinate efforts to provide material assistance to vulnerable families. Buddhist monasteries play a key role, offering food, shelter, and education to boys from impoverished rural areas. Despite these support systems, parental separation still occurs due to factors such as poverty, divorce, parental death, and family size, which also hinder the possibility of family reunification. Some parents believe that sending their children to residential care may offer them better prospects in the future. To address these challenges, it is important to reassess welfare services and institutions, shifting the focus toward family support and community-based solutions, which can reach more children at a lower cost. The potential role of Buddhist temples in child protection is an area that remains underexplored. For children who cannot remain in family care, well-regulated institutions should provide high-quality care with regular oversight.
Selected Publications
Ruiz-Casares, M., & Phommavong, S. (2016). Determinants and Consequences of Children Living Outside of Parental Care in Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Views and Experiences of Adults and Young People in Family and Residential Care (external link) . Global Social Welfare, 3(2), 125-135. doi: 10.1007/s40609-016-0053-5.
Ruiz-Casares, M. (2016). Growing healthy children and communities: Children’s insights in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (external link) . Global Public Health, 11(5-6), 564-582. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2016.1166256.
Ruiz-Casares, M. (2013). Alternative Care in Laos: An Exploratory Study With Children and Caregivers (external link) . Vientiane, Lao P.D.R.: Save the Children, McGill University, Centre de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Montagne, and National University of Laos.
Funding
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) (2022-2025)
Co-researchers
Alissa Koski (PI, McGill University), Andrew Botterell (The University of Western Ontario), Samantha Brennan (University of Guelph), Vardit Ravitsky (University of Montreal), Mónica Ruiz-Casares (Toronto Metropolitan University/McGill University), Daniel Marc Weinstock (co-PI, McGill University)
Summary
In Canadian law and policy, age thresholds are widely applied but vary considerably across areas. For example, individuals may consent to certain medical procedures at age 14, sexual activity or marriage at 16, voting at 18 or 19 (depending on the region), and cannabis use in Quebec at 21. Despite the extensive use of age-based criteria, no systematic study examines why age is used to define rights and responsibilities, or if it effectively represents capacities like reasoning or foresight. While debated within specific policies, these varying age limits may lead to inconsistencies that potentially cause harm.
This project aims to fill conceptual gaps by analyzing policymakers’ and the public's rationale and viewpoint behind age thresholds. It will assess whether age effectively represents certain capacities and examine the consistency of age threshold across legal domains. By promoting a more systematic approach, the project seeks to enhance age-related policies in Canada and globally, as well as engage the public whose rights are impacted by these age-related policies.
This project investigates age thresholds in law and policy by integrating philosophical, ethical, and empirical approaches. Through case studies, it explores the rationale behind age thresholds in specific policies. It also applies qualitative methods to theorize the capacities age represents. A systematic review of psychological and epidemiological research is done to shed light on the link between age and these capacities. The project also examines the ethical basis for age threshold, assessing their consistency across policy areas. Findings aim to promote equitable, more coherent policies that better reflect actual capabilities.