State-civil society cooperation in creating enabling environments for children's rights in Europe and Africa

: dynamics, challenges, lessons, and policy options

Abstract

This study examines cooperation between States Parties, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), including International and Non-Governmental Organisations (I/NGOs), and Independent and National Human Rights Institutions (I/NHRIs), in creating enabling environments for children's rights. This study seeks to understand how I/NHRIs and CSOs interpret an enabling environment for children's rights, assess the extent and impact of their cooperation with States Parties, and identify the challenges and opportunities within the children's rights CSO sector, including between NGOs and INGOs regarding space. A qualitative multi-case study approach was employed, using thematic document analysis and semi-structured interviews with 17 participants from CSOs and I/NHRIs in Nigeria and Sweden, through the lens of Social Accountability. This study merges Grandvoinnet et al.'s (2015) Conceptual Drivers of Social Accountability frame and Bovens' (2007) Model of Public Accountability, developing a new socially accountable children's rights framework. Findings show that an enabling environment requires robust government support, viewing and treating children as full citizens, institutional strengthening, civic space for CSOs, access to justice, and I/NHRI independence. The absence of these factors creates challenges worsened by dwindling political will, financial constraints, authoritarian regimes, and threats to I/NHRI independence, hindering advocacy efforts. The study also reveals the cooperation and competition within the NGO/CSO sector and between I/NHRIs and CSOs. While collaboration aims to advance children's rights, competition for resources, agenda setting, and power play undermine these efforts. Funding emerges as both an enabler and a barrier, leading to conflicts and reluctance to support children asserting their rights. In conclusion, this study posits that children themselves, I/NHRIs, and I/NGOs are a vital part of the Social Accountability tapestry of children's rights implementation. Their intricate relations with each other and States Parties, characterised by both cooperation and competition, significantly influence the establishment of enabling environments for the realisation of children's rights globally.

Thesis is embargoed until 31st December 2027.

Date of Award	Dec 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Supervisor	Dirk Schubotz (Supervisor) & Laura Lundy (Supervisor)