Chloe Alexander, University of Birmingham

Başak Akkan, Bilgi University

This thematic panel proposes a dialogue about the role of children within social reproduction and its implications for their human and social rights. Globally children are important actors within systems of unpaid care, supporting and caring for individuals within their families and communities. They are due recognition and respect for their rights as children and as carers. Their position in society also reflects gender inequalities in the distribution and valuing of care work, suggesting the need for a dialogue with feminist human and social rights perspectives. Different contexts frame the diverse challenges facing the realisation of their human and social rights. We are interested in proposals for papers on:

• The rights of children involved in unpaid care work,
• Gender and intersectional perspective on children’s and young people’s role in unpaid care,
• Diverse experiences of children as young carers, caregivers and children as next of kin
• Adolescents and young people as young adult carers in local contexts,
• Children within social reproduction and hidden forms of intersectional inequalities
• The experiences of adults and children that are recipients of children’s care work,
• Paid care systems (local and global institutions and organizations) that impact the realisation of children’s social and human rights

We are also interested in alternative perspectives on the role of children in relation to unpaid care not covered by the above list of topics.

For this theme we welcome the input of those with lived experience of children’s unpaid care and understanding of the role of policy-making and service provision relating to this group.