International Children’s Rights (Advanced LL.M.)

Prof. Ton Liefaard

Professor of Children's Rights

“International children’s rights is a unique, dynamic and complex area of law. This programme offers advanced, specialist knowledge and practical skills required to effectively protect the rights of children worldwide.”

Mateo Fatsani (Malawi)

Alumnus

“This programme definitely shapes one into a well-rounded scholar, practitioner or expert in the field of children's rights. It was a great privilege for me, thanks to the scholarship, that I was part of the amazing academic experience in this unique, dynamic and complex field of study.”

Mia Dambach

Child Identity Protection

I always enjoy giving lectures to the students undertaking the Leiden Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights, as the discussions and their questions, show that through the course and their own experience, they have an excellent grasp of the complexities surrounding children’s rights.

It is also a great opportunity to identify promising talent that may eventually become team members and will definitely become colleagues.

What does this master's programme entail?

The programme provides an advanced study of the field of children’s rights and pays particular attention to its intersections with diverse fields of law.

The programme Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights (LL.M.) offers a multi-layered study (covering international, regional and national legal systems), as well as an interdisciplinary scope, to examine the most relevant issues impacting children worldwide. What are the rights of the child when it comes to forced marriages or protection against violence or exploitation? Which rights do refugee children have in their host communities? How do we balance between the rights of children, parents and the state? And how can children’s rights be legally enforced in various countries across the globe?

Relevance

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child anchors the right of every child; to protection, healthcare, education, participation and more. Though this is the most ratified international human rights instrument, children today still face significant rights violations and the COVID-19 pandemic has put children’s rights to the test. In this programme, you will learn what children’s rights mean and how to promote and protect the rights of children around the world, also in light of the global challenges of today and tomorrow.

Reasons to choose International Children’s Rights at Leiden University?

• Only one in the world: the programme prides itself as being the only programme in the world offering a legal degree (LL.M.) on international children’s rights.
• Expert instructors: the academic staff members are renowned legal experts in children’s rights. You will also interact with prominent guest lecturers from international organisations, including the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The programme offers smale-scale learning environment, and provides individual guidance to help you succeed.
• Exciting career opportunities: the programme nurtures a new generation of scholars and practitioners and prepares its students for a wide range of career opportunities working with and for children across the globe.

Find more reasons to study International Children’s Rights at Leiden University.