Reimagining children’s participation: a child rights informed approach to social justice in tourism

Abstract

Children's historical marginalisation largely grounded in deeply entrenched assumptions about their status as citizens, including the legitimacy of their views on matters central to their wellbeing, is now well argued. As a result, they have often been gate-kept out of research, policy, and practice spheres, including those related to tourism. This limits their potential to address the injustices they often experience, many of which are amplified during global crises. Through a critical discussion of two examples of such injustice for children in tourism-related contexts, child labour and orphanage tourism, we suggest that prevalent “protectionist” stances that circumscribe children's human rights issues in tourism, reflect broader societal and systemic adult-centric views. We propose the need for a child rights informed approach to participation in tourism research, policy and practice that better recognises the contradictions and complexities of childhood experiences in different social and cultural milieus. This offers a starting point for progressing more socially just responses in supply side tourism contexts that are less “adultist” and more “childist” in orientation.

Keywords:

• Global crises
• COVID-19
• children’s rights
• human rights
• social justice
• ethics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Including among others SDG12 (responsible consumption and production), SDG10 (reduced inequalities); SDG4 (quality education); SDG5 (gender equality); and SDG8 (decent work and economic growth).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Antonia Canosa

Dr Antonia Canosa is a social anthropologist and Research Fellow at the Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University, Australia. Antonia’s work focuses on children’s rights, participation and wellbeing in the context of tourism. She also researches in the areas of identity, belonging, ethical research and youth cultures. Antonia's research has been published widely in highly ranked international journals and presented at national and international conferences.

Anne Graham

Anne Graham is Professor of Childhood Studies and Director of the Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University, Australia. She also holds a Conjoint Professorial appointment at the University of NSW. Anne is nationally and internationally known for her research around children and young people’s rights and wellbeing. She has published widely in areas related to social and emotional wellbeing, participation rights and practices, adapting to loss and grief, and ethical research.