Dear Mercy,

As I see it you could appeal to Piaget's theory, namely his views on education (see, for this respect, his book title: The Future of education: To understand is to invent) and Kohlberg's theory of moral development to give a theoretical focus to your study on children's awareness of their rights according to United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. I once, wanted to do something similar in my country. I didn't go ahead because when I asked children around 7 to tell me some of their rights, they often referred to their duties. This seems that children's acquire first, say, a sense of their duties than a sense of their rights. Will it be the same in your country? It seems that there is an asymmetry between children's awareness of their duties and rights. If this were a widespread tendency, this would mean, among other things, that we are educating our children to be more obedient and conformist citizens than autonomous and creative individuals.

I hope I have got your question and that this of some help to you.

Best regards and good look for your interesting topic of research.

Dear Mercy,

For conducting a study on children's awareness on their rights, one should critically examine the laid provisions for the Rights of the Child in the State. Based upon the provisions, perception survey of the children and the society towards the rights of the Child should be carried out separately. What provisions have been made for the protection of their rights, how to prevent an abuse to their rights and how the children as well as society can participate in delivery rights should be explored on the basis of laid provisions vis-a vis the survey.

Hope this may help you.

Wishing the best for your gentle research.

Good morning! 

Can I suggest a look at some of the critical anthropological (and sociological) work in this field as it is very interesting. It allows for a critique of 'universal' rights instruments such as the UNCRC due to their prioritisation of Western perspectives and values. You might consider the differences here between the UNCRC and the African Charter on the Rights of the Child. The differences in how they consider the responsibilities as well as the rights of children is very interesting. Here those authors such as Heather Montgomery or Jo Borden are very useful indeed. As are those of Samantha Punch and Helen Penn. There are also emerging critiques of the enshrinement of participation in these rights and the institutions where they are realised/performed from authors such as Sara Bragg and Rebecca Ruby. I hope these help in working through your approach to children's understanding of their rights. I often argue it is not just about trying to explore whether children are aware of their rights but also whether they consider the rights afforded to them (by adults) are the right rights. Good luck! 

Dear Mercy,

The following paper might help you:

Shulamit AlmogLotem Perry-Hazan, Conceptualizing the Right of Children to Adaptable Education,Jan 2012The International Journal of Children s Rights

Good luck!

Shulamit Almog