Children’s rights from a gender and sexuality perspective: A scoping review

Abstract

This study presents a scoping literature review aimed at exploring and understanding the current state of the art regarding how children’s and adolescents’ rights are represented in relation to gender and sexuality. Studies were selected through a process consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). These were analysed to highlight relevant issues and to provide a synthesis of children’s rights from a gender and sexuality perspective. Five main themes emerge: 1) the construction of childhood: universality and innocence; 2) children’s rights and women’s rights; 3) childhood, gender, and sexuality; 4) children’s rights and bodies; 5) education. This scoping review provides several insights into recognising children as holders of gender and sexuality rights and emphasises the importance of working towards their acknowledgement.

Keywords: children’s rights, UNCRC, gender, sexuality, education.