- Migration, Human Rights, European Immigration and Asylum Law, Legal Anthropology, Research Methodology, Children's Rights, and 12 moreIndigenous Peoples Rights, Development, Natural Resources, Legal Pluralism, Human Rights Law, International Human Rights Law, United Nations, Customary Law, Law and Development, Anthropology of Children and Childhood, Asylum Law, and Migration Studiesedit
- Ellen Desmet is an Associate Professor of Migration Law at the Faculty of Law and Criminology of Ghent University (Be... moreEllen Desmet is an Associate Professor of Migration Law at the Faculty of Law and Criminology of Ghent University (Belgium). She teaches migration law, coordinates the migration law component of the Human Rights and Migration Law Clinic, and co-lectures legal anthropology.
She is a member of the Human Rights Centre and of the Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees (CESSMIR).
Until September 2016, Ellen was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Ghent University and at the Law and Development Research Group of the University of Antwerp.edit
In 2016 werd in de schoot van de Verenigde Naties besloten om een Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration te ontwikkelen. Het resultaat van dat werk zou een symbool worden van de tegenstellingen die het thema 'migratie'... more
In 2016 werd in de schoot van de Verenigde Naties besloten om een Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration te ontwikkelen. Het resultaat van dat werk zou een symbool worden van de tegenstellingen die het thema 'migratie' wereldwijd oproept. Het Compact, in België bekend als het Migratiepact, was ook in ons land politiek een heet hangijzer. Er zou uiteindelijk een regering over vallen.
Het Migratiepact heeft bovendien tal van vragen rond migratierecht, internationaal recht en grondwettelijk recht losgemaakt. Sommige daarvan waren eigen aan de crisis, andere waren alleszins nog niet afdoende beantwoord. In dit boek nemen deskundigen de opeenvolgende fases van de crisis onder de loep en gaan ze op zoek naar antwoorden.
Het Migratiepact heeft bovendien tal van vragen rond migratierecht, internationaal recht en grondwettelijk recht losgemaakt. Sommige daarvan waren eigen aan de crisis, andere waren alleszins nog niet afdoende beantwoord. In dit boek nemen deskundigen de opeenvolgende fases van de crisis onder de loep en gaan ze op zoek naar antwoorden.
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Veel kinderen migreren zonder hun ouders naar België. Dit boek zoekt constructief mee naar een adequate bescherming van de rechten van deze kinderen; een regelgevend kader dat ‘niet-begeleide minderjarige vreemdelingen’ (NBMV) op de... more
Veel kinderen migreren zonder hun ouders naar België. Dit boek zoekt constructief mee naar een adequate bescherming van de rechten van deze kinderen; een regelgevend kader dat ‘niet-begeleide minderjarige vreemdelingen’ (NBMV) op de eerste plaats als kinderen beschouwt.
Vertrekkend vanuit het kind of de jongere zelf, kijkt het boek naar boven met de vraag: ‘welke juridische regels zijn op hem of haar van toepassing, of zouden dit moeten zijn?’' Het boek schetst een globaal beeld van de rechten van niet-begeleide minderjarige vreemdelingen in België, door het samenbrengen van verschillende rechtsdomeinen (asielrecht, migratierecht, familierecht, jeugdrecht, onderwijsrecht). De hoofdinsteek van het boek is juridisch, maar ook andere disciplinaire perspectieven komen aan bod, zoals de pedagogie, het sociaal werk en de tolkwetenschap.
Het boek is zowel theoretisch als praktisch georiënteerd. De auteurs zijn afkomstig uit de academische wereld én uit verschillende overheidsdiensten, de magistratuur, de advocatuur en het middenveld. Hierdoor biedt het boek een diepgaand inzicht in de manier waarop rechtsregels worden toegepast alsook een kritische analyse van knelpunten en uitdagingen. De lezer zal er ook concrete voorstellen en aanbevelingen in vinden.
Dit samenbrengen van verschillende perspectieven is een unicum. Of, om het met de woorden van een reviewer te zeggen: “Dit wordt een standaardwerk in de Nederlandstalige juridische literatuur rond niet-begeleide minderjarige vreemdelingen.”
Vertrekkend vanuit het kind of de jongere zelf, kijkt het boek naar boven met de vraag: ‘welke juridische regels zijn op hem of haar van toepassing, of zouden dit moeten zijn?’' Het boek schetst een globaal beeld van de rechten van niet-begeleide minderjarige vreemdelingen in België, door het samenbrengen van verschillende rechtsdomeinen (asielrecht, migratierecht, familierecht, jeugdrecht, onderwijsrecht). De hoofdinsteek van het boek is juridisch, maar ook andere disciplinaire perspectieven komen aan bod, zoals de pedagogie, het sociaal werk en de tolkwetenschap.
Het boek is zowel theoretisch als praktisch georiënteerd. De auteurs zijn afkomstig uit de academische wereld én uit verschillende overheidsdiensten, de magistratuur, de advocatuur en het middenveld. Hierdoor biedt het boek een diepgaand inzicht in de manier waarop rechtsregels worden toegepast alsook een kritische analyse van knelpunten en uitdagingen. De lezer zal er ook concrete voorstellen en aanbevelingen in vinden.
Dit samenbrengen van verschillende perspectieven is een unicum. Of, om het met de woorden van een reviewer te zeggen: “Dit wordt een standaardwerk in de Nederlandstalige juridische literatuur rond niet-begeleide minderjarige vreemdelingen.”
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This volume comprises the relevant legal instruments and principal policy documents in the area of international and European asylum and migration, including the latest versions of pending legislative proposals. The range of issues... more
This volume comprises the relevant legal instruments and principal policy documents in the area of international and European asylum and migration, including the latest versions of pending legislative proposals.
The range of issues covered is comprehensive: human rights; nationality and statelessness; equal treatment, non-discrimination, racism and xenophobia; citizenship, residence and free movement; borders, border management and entry; visa and passenger data; labour migration; family reunification; asylum, subsidiary and temporary protection; irregular migration; and trafficking in human beings.
The texts have been ordered according to the multilateral co-operation level within which they were drawn up: either the United Nations, the Council of Europe or the European Union (including Schengen-level instruments).
This edition provides practitioners, authorities, policy makers, scholars and students throughout Europe with an accurate, up-to-date and forward-looking compilation of essential texts on asylum and migration matters.
All texts have been updated until 20 December 2018.
The range of issues covered is comprehensive: human rights; nationality and statelessness; equal treatment, non-discrimination, racism and xenophobia; citizenship, residence and free movement; borders, border management and entry; visa and passenger data; labour migration; family reunification; asylum, subsidiary and temporary protection; irregular migration; and trafficking in human beings.
The texts have been ordered according to the multilateral co-operation level within which they were drawn up: either the United Nations, the Council of Europe or the European Union (including Schengen-level instruments).
This edition provides practitioners, authorities, policy makers, scholars and students throughout Europe with an accurate, up-to-date and forward-looking compilation of essential texts on asylum and migration matters.
All texts have been updated until 20 December 2018.
Research Interests:
The field of ‘critical indigenous rights studies’ is a complex one that benefits from an interdisciplinary perspective and a realist (as opposed to an idealised) approach to indigenous peoples. This book draws on sociology of law,... more
The field of ‘critical indigenous rights studies’ is a complex one that benefits from an interdisciplinary perspective and a realist (as opposed to an idealised) approach to indigenous peoples. This book draws on sociology of law, anthropology, political sciences and legal sciences in order to address emerging issues in the study of indigenous rights and identify directions for future research.
The first part of the volume investigates how changing identities and cultures impact rights protection, analysing how policies on development and land, and processes such as migration, interrelate with the mobilisation of identities and the realisation of rights. In the second part, new approaches related to indigenous peoples’ rights are scrutinised as to their potential and relevance. They include addressing legal tensions from an indigenous peoples’ rights perspective, creating space for counter-narratives on international law and designing new instruments.
Throughout the text, case studies with wide geographical scope are presented, ranging from Latin America (the book’s focus) to Egypt, Rwanda and Scandinavia.
The first part of the volume investigates how changing identities and cultures impact rights protection, analysing how policies on development and land, and processes such as migration, interrelate with the mobilisation of identities and the realisation of rights. In the second part, new approaches related to indigenous peoples’ rights are scrutinised as to their potential and relevance. They include addressing legal tensions from an indigenous peoples’ rights perspective, creating space for counter-narratives on international law and designing new instruments.
Throughout the text, case studies with wide geographical scope are presented, ranging from Latin America (the book’s focus) to Egypt, Rwanda and Scandinavia.
Research Interests:
This volume comprises the relevant legal instruments and principal policy documents in the area of international and European asylum and migration, including the latest versions of pending legislative proposals. The range of issues... more
This volume comprises the relevant legal instruments and principal policy documents in the area of international and European asylum and migration, including the latest versions of pending legislative proposals. The range of issues covered is comprehensive: human rights; nationality and statelessness; equal treatment, non-discrimination, racism and xenophobia; citizenship, residence and free movement; borders, border management and entry; visa and passenger data; labour migration; family reunification; asylum, subsidiary and temporary protection; irregular migration; and trafficking in human beings.
The texts have been ordered according to the multilateral co-operation level within which they were drawn up: either the United Nations, the Council of Europe or the European Union (including Schengen-level instruments).
This edition provides practitioners, authorities, policy makers, scholars and students throughout Europe with an accurate, up-to-date and forward-looking compilation of essential texts on asylum and migration matters.
The texts have been ordered according to the multilateral co-operation level within which they were drawn up: either the United Nations, the Council of Europe or the European Union (including Schengen-level instruments).
This edition provides practitioners, authorities, policy makers, scholars and students throughout Europe with an accurate, up-to-date and forward-looking compilation of essential texts on asylum and migration matters.
Research Interests:
with Eva Brems This book aims to introduce concrete and innovative proposals for a holistic approach to supranational human rights justice through a hands-on legal exercise: the rewriting of decisions of supranational human rights... more
with Eva Brems
This book aims to introduce concrete and innovative proposals for a holistic approach to supranational human rights justice through a hands-on legal exercise: the rewriting of decisions of supranational human rights monitoring bodies. The contributing scholars have thus redrafted crucial passages of landmark human rights judgments and decisions, ‘as if human rights law were really one’, borrowing or taking inspiration from developments and interpretations throughout the whole multi-layered human rights protection system. In addition to the rewriting exercise, the contributors have outlined the methodology and/or theoretical framework that guided their approaches and explain how human rights monitoring bodies may adopt an integrated approach to human rights law.
This book aims to introduce concrete and innovative proposals for a holistic approach to supranational human rights justice through a hands-on legal exercise: the rewriting of decisions of supranational human rights monitoring bodies. The contributing scholars have thus redrafted crucial passages of landmark human rights judgments and decisions, ‘as if human rights law were really one’, borrowing or taking inspiration from developments and interpretations throughout the whole multi-layered human rights protection system. In addition to the rewriting exercise, the contributors have outlined the methodology and/or theoretical framework that guided their approaches and explain how human rights monitoring bodies may adopt an integrated approach to human rights law.
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Eva Brems, Ellen Desmet and Wouter Vandenhole (eds) Children’s rights law is often studied and perceived in isolation from the broader field of human rights law. This volume explores the inter-relationship between children’s rights law... more
Eva Brems, Ellen Desmet and Wouter Vandenhole (eds)
Children’s rights law is often studied and perceived in isolation from the broader field of human rights law. This volume explores the inter-relationship between children’s rights law and more general human rights law in order to see whether elements from each could successfully inform the other. Children’s rights law has a number of distinctive characteristics, such as the emphasis on the ‘best interests of the child’, the use of general principles, and the inclusion of ‘third parties’ (e.g. parents and other care-takers) in treaty provisions. The first part of this book questions whether these features could be a source of inspiration for general human rights law. In part two, the reverse question is asked: could children’s rights law draw inspiration from developments in other branches of human rights law that focus on other specific categories of rights holders, such as women, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, or older persons? Finally, the interaction between children’s rights law and human rights law – and the potential for their isolation, inspiration or integration – may be coloured or determined by the thematic issue under consideration. Therefore the third part of the book studies the interplay between children’s rights law and human rights law in the context of specific topics: intra-family relations, LGBTQI marginalization, migration, media, the environment and transnational human rights obligations.
Children’s rights law is often studied and perceived in isolation from the broader field of human rights law. This volume explores the inter-relationship between children’s rights law and more general human rights law in order to see whether elements from each could successfully inform the other. Children’s rights law has a number of distinctive characteristics, such as the emphasis on the ‘best interests of the child’, the use of general principles, and the inclusion of ‘third parties’ (e.g. parents and other care-takers) in treaty provisions. The first part of this book questions whether these features could be a source of inspiration for general human rights law. In part two, the reverse question is asked: could children’s rights law draw inspiration from developments in other branches of human rights law that focus on other specific categories of rights holders, such as women, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, or older persons? Finally, the interaction between children’s rights law and human rights law – and the potential for their isolation, inspiration or integration – may be coloured or determined by the thematic issue under consideration. Therefore the third part of the book studies the interplay between children’s rights law and human rights law in the context of specific topics: intra-family relations, LGBTQI marginalization, migration, media, the environment and transnational human rights obligations.
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The exponential growth of China’s megacities has attracted an increasing number of internal migrants since the mid-1980s. This creates problems regarding access to quality education for the children of these rural-urban migrant households... more
The exponential growth of China’s megacities has attracted an increasing number of internal migrants since the mid-1980s. This creates problems regarding access to quality education for the children of these rural-urban migrant households in the cities, since access to education is determined by one’s household registration (hukou). This book presents the results of a socio-legal research on the right to education of children of rural-urban migrant workers in Chongqing. It unravels the intricacies at play in accessing and enjoying compulsory education and assesses the relevance of invoking human rights language in that context.
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Since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) children’s rights have assumed a central position in a wide variety of disciplines and policies. This handbook offers an engaging overview of the contemporary... more
Since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) children’s rights have assumed a central position in a wide variety of disciplines and policies. This handbook offers an engaging overview of the contemporary research landscape for those people involved in the theory and practice of children’s rights.
The volume offers a multidisciplinary approach to children’s rights to children’s rights, as well as key thematic issues in children’s rights at the intersection of global and local concerns. The main approaches and topics within the volume are:
- Law, social work, the sociology of childhood and anthropology
- Geography, childhood studies, gender studies and citizenship studies
- Participation, education and health
- Juvenile justice and alternative care
- Violence against children and female genital mutilation
- Child labour, working children and child poverty
- Migration, indigenous children and resource exploitation
The specially commissioned chapters have been written by renowned scholars and researchers and come together to provide a critical and invaluable guide to the challenges and dilemmas currently facing children’s rights.
The volume offers a multidisciplinary approach to children’s rights to children’s rights, as well as key thematic issues in children’s rights at the intersection of global and local concerns. The main approaches and topics within the volume are:
- Law, social work, the sociology of childhood and anthropology
- Geography, childhood studies, gender studies and citizenship studies
- Participation, education and health
- Juvenile justice and alternative care
- Violence against children and female genital mutilation
- Child labour, working children and child poverty
- Migration, indigenous children and resource exploitation
The specially commissioned chapters have been written by renowned scholars and researchers and come together to provide a critical and invaluable guide to the challenges and dilemmas currently facing children’s rights.
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Una mayor conciencia pública sobre la creciente pérdida de biodiversidad ha motivado iniciativas para lograr esfuerzos de conservación más efectivos. La mayoría de las áreas ricas en biodiversidad son habitadas o utilizadas por pueblos... more
Una mayor conciencia pública sobre la creciente pérdida de biodiversidad ha motivado iniciativas para lograr esfuerzos de conservación más efectivos. La mayoría de las áreas ricas en biodiversidad son habitadas o utilizadas por pueblos indígenas o comunidades locales. En los últimos años, emergió un nuevo paradigma de «conservación que respeta los derechos de los pueblos indígenas y las comunidades locales». ¿Qué significa este cambio político en términos del sistema internacional de protección de los derechos humanos? ¿Cómo se implementó este nuevo esquema a nivel nacional en el Perú y local en la Zona Reservada de Güeppí del Alto Putumayo?
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"Heightened public awareness of the ever increasing loss of biodiversity has led to louder calls for effective nature conservation efforts. Most remaining biodiversity-rich areas are inhabited or used by indigenous peoples and local... more
"Heightened public awareness of the ever increasing loss of biodiversity has led to louder calls for effective nature conservation efforts. Most remaining biodiversity-rich areas are inhabited or used by indigenous peoples and local communities. In recent years a new ‘paradigm’ of ‘nature conservation with respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities’ has emerged. Two questions arise: What exactly does this policy shift mean in terms of international human rights law? And how has this new paradigm been translated and applied at the national and local level?
This study investigates how nature conservation initiatives interact with the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities from a human rights and legal anthropological perspective. The book is distinctive in that it provides a comprehensive review of international human rights law in the context of nature conservation; a critical appraisal of Peruvian nature conservation legislation in relation to the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities; and a thorough analysis of the interaction between three levels of regulation: the international level of human rights, the national level of Peru, and the local level of a specific protected area (the Güeppí Reserved Zone). It is based on extensive field work.
This volume will be of interest to both academics and practitioners who are working in the fields of nature conservation, human rights or indigenous peoples’ rights."
This study investigates how nature conservation initiatives interact with the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities from a human rights and legal anthropological perspective. The book is distinctive in that it provides a comprehensive review of international human rights law in the context of nature conservation; a critical appraisal of Peruvian nature conservation legislation in relation to the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities; and a thorough analysis of the interaction between three levels of regulation: the international level of human rights, the national level of Peru, and the local level of a specific protected area (the Güeppí Reserved Zone). It is based on extensive field work.
This volume will be of interest to both academics and practitioners who are working in the fields of nature conservation, human rights or indigenous peoples’ rights."
Research Interests:
Bringing together scholars of migration and constitutional law, this volume analyses the problematic relationship between the rise of populism, restrictions of migrants' rights and democratic decay in Europe. By offering both constructive... more
Bringing together scholars of migration and constitutional law, this volume analyses the problematic relationship between the rise of populism, restrictions of migrants' rights and democratic decay in Europe. By offering both constructive and critical accounts, it creates a nuanced debate on the possibilities for and limitations of legal resilience against populist erosion of migrants' rights. Crucially, it does not merely diagnose the causes of restrictions of migrants' rights, but also proposes how the law might be used as a solution. In this volume, the law is considered as both a source of resilience and part of the problem at three distinct levels: the legal-theoretical, the European, and the national level. It is a major contribution to the literature on migrants' rights, offering a nuanced account of how legal resilience might be used to safeguard migrants' rights against further erosion in populist times. This book is available as Open Access.
Bringing together scholars of migration and constitutional law, this volume analyses the problematic relationship between the rise of populism, restrictions of migrants' rights and democratic decay in Europe. By offering both constructive and critical accounts, it creates a nuanced debate on the possibilities for and limitations of legal resilience against populist erosion of migrants' rights. Crucially, it does not merely diagnose the causes of restrictions of migrants' rights, but also proposes how the law might be used as a solution. In this volume, the law is considered as both a source of resilience and part of the problem at three distinct levels: the legal-theoretical, the European, and the national level. It is a major contribution to the literature on migrants' rights, offering a nuanced account of how legal resilience might be used to safeguard migrants' rights against further erosion in populist times. This book is available as Open Access.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/migrants-rights-populism-and-legal-resilience-in-europe/C0E1A7A7C0DD59D933E320D1A6465184
Bringing together scholars of migration and constitutional law, this volume analyses the problematic relationship between the rise of populism, restrictions of migrants' rights and democratic decay in Europe. By offering both constructive and critical accounts, it creates a nuanced debate on the possibilities for and limitations of legal resilience against populist erosion of migrants' rights. Crucially, it does not merely diagnose the causes of restrictions of migrants' rights, but also proposes how the law might be used as a solution. In this volume, the law is considered as both a source of resilience and part of the problem at three distinct levels: the legal-theoretical, the European, and the national level. It is a major contribution to the literature on migrants' rights, offering a nuanced account of how legal resilience might be used to safeguard migrants' rights against further erosion in populist times. This book is available as Open Access.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/migrants-rights-populism-and-legal-resilience-in-europe/C0E1A7A7C0DD59D933E320D1A6465184
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This article presents a tentative analysis of 30 years of academic research in the field of children’s rights and migration (1989–2019). Much research has addressed the plight of unaccompanied, refugee and asylum-seeking children, trying... more
This article presents a tentative analysis of 30 years of academic research in the field of children’s rights and migration (1989–2019). Much research has addressed the plight of unaccompanied, refugee and asylum-seeking children, trying better to link children’s rights considerations with international refugee law. Many publications address the best interests of the child principle and the right to be heard. Most research focuses on (migration towards) Europe. This has led to an increased visibility and recognition of children’s rights in the context of migration. However, there are still various blind spots in the research reviewed. Most research focuses on some children, but not all (e.g., accompanied children), on some rights, but not all (e.g., economic, social and cultural rights), and on some types of migration, but not all (e.g., economic migration). Moreover, refugee and migrant children tend to be studied as a group, which risks reducing attention for their internal diversity.
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Borders follow migrants even inside the territory of their State of destination. These ‘sticky’ figurative borders may flow directly from immigration norms and practice or indirectly from other areas of law. This Special Issue focuses on... more
Borders follow migrants even inside the territory of their State of destination. These ‘sticky’ figurative borders may flow directly from immigration norms and practice or indirectly from other areas of law. This Special Issue focuses on the gendered nature of these borders, as they rely on/reinforce socially constructed norms of masculinity and femininity. As a result, these figurative borders undermine the equal enjoyment of human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers along gender lines. Specifically, gendered borders are analysed in relation to the themes of asylum, domestic labour and gender-based violence. The human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in these domains are analysed in an integrated and complex fashion. The analysis demonstrates that migrants, refugees and asylum seekers navigate and challenge not only sticky figurative borders, but also borders between different areas of law. The (non)interaction between these different areas of law may equally create or reinforce unequal human rights protection along gender lines. The law, across different areas and through the workings of diverse categories, definitions and standards, may thus work as a border-reinforcer.
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2019 lijkt een beslissend jaar te worden voor humanitaire visa. In België wordt de procedure kritisch onder de loep genomen, het Europees Hof voor de Rechten van de Mens zal zich uitspreken over één van de twee zaken die in 2016 de media... more
2019 lijkt een beslissend jaar te worden voor humanitaire visa.
In België wordt de procedure kritisch onder de loep genomen,
het Europees Hof voor de Rechten van de Mens zal zich uitspreken
over één van de twee zaken die in 2016 de media beheersten, en
binnen de Europese Unie circuleert een voorstel voor een ‘Europees
humanitair visum’.
In België wordt de procedure kritisch onder de loep genomen,
het Europees Hof voor de Rechten van de Mens zal zich uitspreken
over één van de twee zaken die in 2016 de media beheersten, en
binnen de Europese Unie circuleert een voorstel voor een ‘Europees
humanitair visum’.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Dit artikel analyseert de arresten van de Raad voor Vreemdelingenbetwistingen uit het volle rechtsmachtcontentieux van 2016, waarin minderjarigen betrokken zijn als verzoeker of kind van verzoeker. De volle rechtsmachtprocedure betreft... more
Dit artikel analyseert de arresten van de Raad voor Vreemdelingenbetwistingen uit het volle rechtsmachtcontentieux van 2016, waarin minderjarigen betrokken zijn als verzoeker of kind van verzoeker. De volle rechtsmachtprocedure betreft beroepen aangetekend tegen beslissingen van het Commissariaat-Generaal voor Vluchtelingen en Staatlozen (CGVS), inzake de erkenning als vluchteling en de toekenning van de subsidiaire beschermingsstatus. Na een uiteenzetting van de methodologie, komen de resultaten van een kwantitatieve analyse aan bod, die het aandeel van verschillende types beslissingen (bevestiging, hervorming, vernietiging) bekijkt in verhouding tot verschillende variabelen. Daarna volgt een kwalitatieve analyse, die onderzoekt hoe de Raad het beginsel van het hoger belang van het kind juridisch benadert, en welke verwachtingen hij stelt ten aanzien van minderjarigen. Deze sectie begint met een kort overzicht van de juridische verankering van het beginsel van het hoger belang van het kind, met bijzondere aandacht voor de interpretatie hiervan door het Comité voor de Rechten van het Kind van de Verenigde Naties.
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Research Interests:
There are some remarkable parallels in how international human rights law and scholarship have been addressing the claims and rights of indigenous peoples and children. This chapter suggests that indigenous peoples' rights law could... more
There are some remarkable parallels in how international human rights law and scholarship have been addressing the claims and rights of indigenous peoples and children. This chapter suggests that indigenous peoples' rights law could inspire children's rights law in three domains: the demarcation of its personal scope, the development of the right to be heard of children as a group, and the conceptualisation of children's right to give consent. A challenge common to both fields of indigenous peoples' rights and children's rights law and research concerns addressing romanticised constructions and, in particular, their detrimental consequences.
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in Tine Destrooper & Sally Engle Merry (eds), Human Rights Transformation in Practice, University of Pennsylvania Press, 183-207
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This chapter analyses some features of the relationship between legal pluralism and international human rights law, first at a conceptual level, then in the concrete case of indigenous land, territorial and resource rights. in G.... more
This chapter analyses some features of the relationship between legal pluralism and international human rights law, first at a conceptual level, then in the concrete case of indigenous land, territorial and resource rights.
in G. Corradi, E. Brems & M. Goodale (eds), Human Rights Encounter Legal Pluralism: Normative and Empirical Approaches, Hart Publishing, 41-54.
in G. Corradi, E. Brems & M. Goodale (eds), Human Rights Encounter Legal Pluralism: Normative and Empirical Approaches, Hart Publishing, 41-54.
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De administratieve detentie van migranten – zowel kinderen als volwassenen – is een praktijk die vanuit mensenrechtenperspectief veel vragen oproept. In twee recente arresten spreekt het Europees Hof voor de Rechten van de Mens (EHRM)... more
De administratieve detentie van migranten – zowel kinderen als volwassenen – is een praktijk die vanuit mensenrechtenperspectief veel vragen oproept. In twee recente arresten spreekt het Europees Hof voor de Rechten van de Mens (EHRM) zich hierover opnieuw uit. Waar het Hof in A.B. e.a. t. Frankrijk zijn rechtspraak inzake bewaring van begeleide minderjarige vreemdelingen wat verstrengt, blijft de uitspraak in Thimothawes t. België, inzake de vrijheidsberoving van een volwassen asielzoeker, onder de standaard die in andere Europese en internationale mensenrechtennormen is vastgelegd. Zo bevat het EU-recht, zowel in de (herschikte) Opvangrichtlijn als in de Terugkeerrichtlijn, strengere normen inzake immigratiedetentie van volwassen migranten. Wat de immigratiedetentie van kinderen betreft, is er echter een verontrustende evolutie merkbaar binnen het EU-beleid. Recente verklaringen lijken de deur weer meer open te zetten voor immigratiedetentie van minderjarigen, onder het mom van een ‘krachtdadig terugkeerbeleid’.
in Tijdschrift voor Jeugdrecht en Kinderrechten, 2017, vol. 18, no. 2, 79-83.
in Tijdschrift voor Jeugdrecht en Kinderrechten, 2017, vol. 18, no. 2, 79-83.
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One way of improving natural resource regimes would be through a more careful and consistent identification of rights-holders, with more explicit attention for the relationship between the rights of indigenous peoples and other local... more
One way of improving natural resource regimes would be through a more careful and consistent identification of rights-holders, with more explicit attention for the relationship between the rights of indigenous peoples and other local non-indigenous communities. This argument is illustrated with a critical analysis of the protected areas legislation in Peru, focusing on the right to consultation prior to the establishment of a protected area, and the rights to use and sustainably manage natural resources within protected areas. On the basis of both international human rights law and empirical data, it is suggested that limiting subsistence-related rights in protected areas to indigenous peoples could endanger the enjoyment of the right to food of the local non-indigenous population. Moreover, the extension of certain human rights that are currently only or mostly granted to indigenous peoples to the broader local population affected by a protected area, should be considered.
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This paper reviews and reflects upon the literature in which children’s rights and legal pluralism stand at the core. This scholarship has mainly addressed three research questions: how global children’s rights standards interrelate with... more
This paper reviews and reflects upon the literature in which children’s rights and legal
pluralism stand at the core. This scholarship has mainly addressed three research
questions: how global children’s rights standards interrelate with local normative
orders and practices; how children as well as justice providers navigate legally plural
orders; and how legal pluralism interplays with social change and the realisation of
children’s rights. As regards research topics, intra-family relations have received more
scholarly attention than the position of children in the wider society. Even though,
often implicitly, a variety of theoretical approaches may be discerned, particularly
regarding the conceptualisation of children’s rights (e.g. as semi-autonomous or static)
and legal pluralism (e.g. as dichotomous or multi-level). In the conceptualisation of
children and childhood, a social constructionist approach is predominant. On this
basis, we formulate a number of suggestions for future research. It is concluded that
further developing the subfield of children’s rights and legal pluralism is worthwhile,
not only because of the specificity of the knowledge needed, but also because this may
deepen our understanding of the interplay between legal pluralism and human rights
more generally.
pluralism stand at the core. This scholarship has mainly addressed three research
questions: how global children’s rights standards interrelate with local normative
orders and practices; how children as well as justice providers navigate legally plural
orders; and how legal pluralism interplays with social change and the realisation of
children’s rights. As regards research topics, intra-family relations have received more
scholarly attention than the position of children in the wider society. Even though,
often implicitly, a variety of theoretical approaches may be discerned, particularly
regarding the conceptualisation of children’s rights (e.g. as semi-autonomous or static)
and legal pluralism (e.g. as dichotomous or multi-level). In the conceptualisation of
children and childhood, a social constructionist approach is predominant. On this
basis, we formulate a number of suggestions for future research. It is concluded that
further developing the subfield of children’s rights and legal pluralism is worthwhile,
not only because of the specificity of the knowledge needed, but also because this may
deepen our understanding of the interplay between legal pluralism and human rights
more generally.
Research Interests:
This thematic section entitled ‘children and young people in legally plural worlds’ builds on a panel that was organized by the guest editors during the 2013 conference of the Commission on Legal Pluralism in Manchester. The panel was... more
This thematic section entitled ‘children and young people in legally plural worlds’ builds on a panel that was organized by the guest editors during the 2013 conference of the Commission on Legal Pluralism in Manchester. The panel was conceived as an opportunity to bring together theoretical and empirical contributions reflecting on under-researched issues concerning the relationship between children, children’s rights and legal pluralism.
Research Interests:
This article develops a research approach which can be summarised as ‘analysing users’ trajectories in human rights’. The key element of this approach, adopting a users’ perspective on human rights, implies a shift in analytical focus.... more
This article develops a research approach which can be summarised as ‘analysing users’ trajectories in human rights’. The key element of this approach, adopting a users’ perspective on human rights, implies a shift in analytical focus. Instead of analysing a specific legal instrument, topic or enforcement mechanism, one puts oneself in the shoes of those who engage with (use) human rights. The article explores the implications of adopting such a users’ perspective on human rights and introduces and reflects upon a categorisation of human rights uses and users. It proposes a broad understanding of human rights users, including rights claimants (who invoke human rights), rights realisers (who give effect to human rights), supportive users (who support the realisation of human rights) and judicial users (who impose the implementation of human rights), and argues that a possible way of adopting a users’ perspective is through analysing the ‘trajectories’ of users in relation to human rights.
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This chapter explores the relevance of children’s rights (law) in the context of natural resource exploitation, with focus on Latin America. After an introduction on resource exploitation policies, the experiences of children and young... more
This chapter explores the relevance of children’s rights (law) in the context of natural resource exploitation, with focus on Latin America. After an introduction on resource exploitation policies, the experiences of children and young people in relation to natural resource industries in Latin America are discussed. Thereinafter, legal developments are analysed, with particular attention for business-related standards, the Inter-American human rights jurisprudence and the approach of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Resource exploitation is an area in which the current legal conceptualization of children’s and human rights runs up against its limits. Moreover, two fields of tension are identified. First, although child-specific initiatives have their merits, adequately addressing extraction-related challenges requires a more general approach. Second, integrating findings from other disciplines in legal analysis may work both empowering and disempowering, depending on how insights are used. The chapter ends with three future-oriented reflections: the need for effective remedies and domestic change; the importance of understanding children’s rights in a holistic, intercultural and context-specific way; and the suggestion to shift focus in future research towards a more inclusive engagement with natural resources, including conservation and sustainable use, rather than (only) exploitation.
Research Interests:
In Flanders, a child and youth impact report (JoKER) must accompany all legislative proposals based on an initiative of the Flemish Government, that have a direct impact on the interests of persons under the age of 25. This article... more
In Flanders, a child and youth impact report (JoKER) must accompany all legislative proposals based on an initiative of the Flemish Government, that have a direct impact on the interests of persons under the age of 25. This article presents the results of the first in-depth evaluation carried out of this impact assessment instrument. Based on multiple data collection techniques (including an electronic survey and focus groups), JoKER was critically evaluated as to its scope, quality, process, support and control, effectiveness and impact. The evaluation required maintaining a balance between various perspectives and tensions. A major challenge concerns the tension between mainstreaming JoKER in the more general regulatory impact assessment (RIA), on the one hand, and preserving the specificity of a youth and children’s rights perspective, on the other.
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Establishing a child rights impact assessment (CRIA) requires making strategic choices in regards to scope and process. This article focuses on choices regarding (i) the material scope: for which documents will a CRIA be carried out?;... more
Establishing a child rights impact assessment (CRIA) requires making strategic choices in regards to scope and process. This article focuses on choices regarding (i) the material scope: for which documents will a CRIA be carried out?; (ii) the personal scope: will a CRIA be done only for children (0-18 years), or be extended towards young adults?; and (iii) the relationship to other instruments and processes: will a CRIA stand alone, or be integrated with other impact assessments? The relation between CRIA and other instruments, such as child(-friendly) budgeting is also discussed. The article illustrates these choices, drawing on an evaluation of the experience of implementing
the Child and Youth Impact Report (JoKER) in Flanders (Belgium).
the Child and Youth Impact Report (JoKER) in Flanders (Belgium).
Research Interests:
Door de recente intensievere globalisering hebben steeds meer mensen, die onderling sterk van elkaar verschillen naar achtergrond en situatie, toegang gekregen tot de taal en instrumenten van de mensenrechten. De vraag die hierbij rijst... more
Door de recente intensievere globalisering hebben steeds meer mensen, die onderling sterk van elkaar verschillen naar achtergrond en situatie, toegang gekregen tot de taal en instrumenten van de mensenrechten. De vraag die hierbij rijst is of mensenrechten, gezien hun westerse origine, wel relevant zijn voor deze groepen. In dit hoofdstuk hebben we gepleit voor een contextualisering van mensenrechten: naargelang de context, moeten mensenrechten op een andere manier ingevuld en gerealiseerd worden.
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De laatste decennia zijn mensenrechten een belangrijke manier geworden voor inheemse volkeren om respect te eisen voor hun specifieke noden en rechten. Dit hoofdstuk onderzoekt deze groeiende alliantie tussen inheemse volkeren en... more
De laatste decennia zijn mensenrechten een belangrijke manier
geworden voor inheemse volkeren om respect te eisen voor
hun specifieke noden en rechten. Dit hoofdstuk onderzoekt deze
groeiende alliantie tussen inheemse volkeren en mensenrechten.
Daarbij wijst het op een aantal spanningsvelden die ontstaan wanneer
inheemse volkeren mensenrechten gebruiken: een mogelijks
minder uitgebreide bescherming van rechten op natuurlijke hulpbronnen
dan onder het eigen gewoonterecht of traditionele recht;
een risico van onderbelichting van sociaal-economische en milieuaspecten
door de nadruk op culturele identiteit; een geïdealiseerde
voorstelling van de inheemse identiteit, met gevaar voor marginalisering
van bepaalde groepen binnen de inheemse samenleving,
zoals vrouwen of personen met een handicap; de kloof tussen belangrijke
internationale arresten en de realiteit van het dagelijkse
leven van de betrokken inheemse gemeenschappen; en – vanuit
een ruimer perspectief – een gebrek aan aandacht voor de rechten
van niet-inheemse lokale gemeenschappen. Bewust omgaan met
deze spanningsvelden kan leiden tot een adequatere realisatie van
mensenrechten.
geworden voor inheemse volkeren om respect te eisen voor
hun specifieke noden en rechten. Dit hoofdstuk onderzoekt deze
groeiende alliantie tussen inheemse volkeren en mensenrechten.
Daarbij wijst het op een aantal spanningsvelden die ontstaan wanneer
inheemse volkeren mensenrechten gebruiken: een mogelijks
minder uitgebreide bescherming van rechten op natuurlijke hulpbronnen
dan onder het eigen gewoonterecht of traditionele recht;
een risico van onderbelichting van sociaal-economische en milieuaspecten
door de nadruk op culturele identiteit; een geïdealiseerde
voorstelling van de inheemse identiteit, met gevaar voor marginalisering
van bepaalde groepen binnen de inheemse samenleving,
zoals vrouwen of personen met een handicap; de kloof tussen belangrijke
internationale arresten en de realiteit van het dagelijkse
leven van de betrokken inheemse gemeenschappen; en – vanuit
een ruimer perspectief – een gebrek aan aandacht voor de rechten
van niet-inheemse lokale gemeenschappen. Bewust omgaan met
deze spanningsvelden kan leiden tot een adequatere realisatie van
mensenrechten.
Research Interests:
Cette contribution analyse la situation hybride et le futur incertain des ressources naturelles en Amazonie péruvienne . En effet, d’une part, le Pérou, l’un des pays du monde les plus riches en diversité biologique, déclare mener une... more
Cette contribution analyse la situation hybride et le futur incertain des ressources naturelles en Amazonie péruvienne . En effet, d’une part, le Pérou, l’un des pays du monde les plus riches en diversité biologique, déclare mener une politique de conservation de la nature. D’autre part, une partie impressionnante de la forêt amazonienne a été divisée en blocs pétroliers et donnée en concession aux compagnies extractives. Cet article se concentre sur les conséquences ambiguës de ces politiques péruviennes et surtout sur leurs impacts sur la population locale. Nous prêterons une attention particulière à la région de l’Alto Putumayo dans le nord de l’Amazonie péruvienne, et aux expériences des Airo Pai, un peuple autochtone de cette région.
Research Interests:
From various perspectives, an ambiguous relationship between the Convention on the Rights of the Child and young persons emerges. Given the overlap between the target groups of children’s rights policies and youth policies, the current... more
From various perspectives, an ambiguous relationship between the Convention on the Rights of the Child and young persons emerges. Given the overlap between the target groups of children’s rights policies and youth policies, the current and potential connections between these two policies are explored, in order to assess whether (further) linking these policies could increase the realization of the rights of young persons. The inquiry is carried out at the international and European level (United Nations, Council of Europe and European Union), on the one hand, and within Flanders (Belgium), on the other. Contrasting results appear, calling for a middle ground in the degree of interconnection between children’s rights policies and youth policies.
Research Interests:
On paper, the Peruvian state legal framework has made some progress in incorporating respect for customary legal systems. For the greater part, however, the recognition of customary norms, organizational forms and decision-making... more
On paper, the Peruvian state legal framework has made some progress in incorporating respect for customary legal systems. For the greater part, however, the recognition of customary norms, organizational forms and decision-making mechanisms is subsequently weakened or invalidated in various strategies, such as: the addition of qualifying language limiting application; the requirement of compatibility with national state law and/or international human rights law; and the imposition in the law of norms, organizational structures or decision-making processes that are foreign to the customary legal systems concerned. This is demonstrated through the analysis of three themes: the organizational and judicial autonomy of indigenous peoples, land rights and nature conservation. The Peruvian national legislation is studied, as well as its impact on the daily life and organization of an indigenous people living at the border Peru-Colombia, the Airo Pai (Secoya).
This analysis of the Peruvian legislation on autonomy, land rights and nature conservation demonstrates that, in the end, there is no real space for customary institutions and decision-making processes to function.
This analysis of the Peruvian legislation on autonomy, land rights and nature conservation demonstrates that, in the end, there is no real space for customary institutions and decision-making processes to function.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
"La organización de los airo pai (secoya) de la Amazonia peruana es influida por procesos transnacionales locales y globales. Los procesos transnacionales globales reflejan la intensificación de la globalización. Proyectos de conservación... more
"La organización de los airo pai (secoya) de la Amazonia peruana es influida por procesos transnacionales locales y globales. Los procesos transnacionales globales reflejan la intensificación de la globalización. Proyectos de conservación y de derechos indígenas incidieron de varios modos en la organización airo pai a nivel comunal e intercomunal, igual que en su relación con el gobierno local. Además, una concesión petrolera acarreó nuevos intereses. Los airo pai manejan esta multiplicidad de interacciones creativamente. En su ruta hacia una organización indígena representativa y una participación política efectiva, emplean las herramientas del sistema jurídico occidental cuando les parece útil."
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In opdracht van de Vlaamse Overheid, heeft het Kenniscentrum Kinderrechten vzw (KeKi) een evaluatie ondernomen van de kind- en jongereneffectrapportage (JoKER). Deze heeft geleid tot een SWOT-analyse, gestructureerd aan de hand van... more
In opdracht van de Vlaamse Overheid, heeft het Kenniscentrum Kinderrechten vzw (KeKi) een evaluatie ondernomen van de kind- en jongereneffectrapportage (JoKER). Deze heeft geleid tot een SWOT-analyse, gestructureerd aan de hand van volgende thema’s: ‘toepassingsgebied’, ‘kwaliteit’, ‘proces’, ‘ondersteuning en controle’, ‘effectiviteit’ en ‘impact’.
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This paper describes the policy agendas on children, youth and children’s rights of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.
Research Interests:
This study compares the policy agendas on children('s rights) and youth of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations and identifies possible synergies. Focus is placed on those internal policy agendas of the... more
This study compares the policy agendas on children('s rights) and youth of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations and identifies possible synergies. Focus is placed on those internal policy agendas of the organizations where a policy on children('s rights) or young people is the central objective; EU external policy is excluded from the analysis.
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Deze studie plaatst het Decreet betreffende de Rechtspositie van de Minderjarige in de integrale jeugdhulp (DRM) van 7 mei 2004 in internationaal perspectief, en toetst het decreet aan een aantal instrumenten van internationaal recht.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The implementation of environmental protection measures may interfere with the enjoyment of certain human rights.The European Court of Human Rights and the former Commission have developed quite an extensive jurisprudence in which these... more
The implementation of environmental protection measures may interfere with the enjoyment of certain human rights.The European Court of Human Rights and the former Commission
have developed quite an extensive jurisprudence in which these potentially conflicting goods of human rights and nature protection are balanced. Conservation-related cases have generally concerned the right to property, the right to private life and home, the right to a fair trial and the prohibition of discrimination. Especially with regard to the right to property, an increase in conservation-related cases and findings of violations is noticeable.
have developed quite an extensive jurisprudence in which these potentially conflicting goods of human rights and nature protection are balanced. Conservation-related cases have generally concerned the right to property, the right to private life and home, the right to a fair trial and the prohibition of discrimination. Especially with regard to the right to property, an increase in conservation-related cases and findings of violations is noticeable.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The growing international responsiveness to the rights of victims materialised in 2005 in the UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for the Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law... more
The growing international responsiveness to the rights of victims materialised in 2005 in the UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for the Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law (BPGs). Their analysis leads to a nuanced conclusion. On the one hand, the BPGs significantly contribute to strengthening victims’ rights, as they adopt a victim-oriented perspective and provide a structured enunciation of their rights. They may inspire the African human rights system and national states in the development of their jurisprudence and policy on remedies. On the other hand, the expert text has been substantially weakened during the intergovernmental consultations. In some aspects, the BPGs even fall short of their intention to uphold international standards. Looking at the instrument through indigenous peoples’ eyes unveils some specific deficiencies. Particularly regrettable is the reluctance of states to incorporate provisions concerning collective rights, whereas it is essential for indigenous peoples to be able to file a collective claim and receive reparation collectively. The challenges for the future lie first, in the implementation of the BPGs within national legal systems and second, in a further strengthening of the international norms on victims’ rights, preferably by working towards a binding convention on the rights of victims of all human rights violations.
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In 2001 vierde het Verdrag betreffende de status van vluchtelingen zijn 50ste verjaardag: een ideale gelegenheid om de balans op te maken. Welke bijdrage heeft het Vluchtelingenverdrag geleverd tot de bescherming van vluchtelingen, en hoe... more
In 2001 vierde het Verdrag betreffende de status van vluchtelingen zijn 50ste verjaardag: een ideale gelegenheid om de balans op te maken. Welke bijdrage heeft het Vluchtelingenverdrag geleverd tot de bescherming van vluchtelingen, en hoe ziet de toekomst eruit? Hoewel het Vluchtelingenverdrag wereldwijd beschouwd wordt als het fundament voor de internationale bescherming van vluchtelingen, is de balans niet onverdeeld positief. De laatste jaren is het Vluchtelingenverdrag het middelpunt geweest van hevige kritiek: het Verdrag zou verouderd zijn en niet geschikt om de huidige vluchtelingencrisissen aan te pakken. In deze paper heb ik geprobeerd het belang van het Vluchtelingenverdrag aan te tonen, maar ook de oorzaken van voormelde kritiek te verduidelijken en een aantal voorstellen te formuleren naar de
toekomst toe.
toekomst toe.
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This chapter analyses two strands of case law of the Council for Alien Law Litigation (CALL or Council) in Belgium from the perspective of children’s rights and the need to ensure unity of jurisprudence. On the one hand, it looks into... more
This chapter analyses two strands of case law of the Council for Alien Law Litigation (CALL or Council) in Belgium from the perspective of children’s rights and the need to ensure unity of jurisprudence. On the one hand, it looks into appeals against decisions of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) denying a minor or his/her parent(s) the refugee and/or subsidiary protection status, in which the CALL undertakes a full judicial review. On the other, it scrutinizes appeals against return orders delivered by the Immigration Office in the context of the durable solution procedure to the guardian of an unaccompanied minor (UNAM), for which the CALL only has an annulment competence.