Children and global social policy: Exploring the impact of international governmental organisations

Axford, Nick

doi:10.1111/j.1468-2397.2011.00781.x

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Even when these funds are made available, they are largely channeled through international agencies such as UNICEF, the ILO and other international government organizations. As noted by Axford (2012) 'African countries contribute very modestly, with what might be considered "pocket money"' (in Hessle, 2011: 5). These powerful organizations, on the other hand, are able to fund and administer their research, push their agenda through the government and also significantly influence local workers through the wide dissemination of information.…”

Section: Discussion and Implications For Research Policy Education And Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

The diffusion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) more than the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) in Africa: The influence of coercion and emulation

Mbise

2016

International Social Work

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In 1989, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), a seminal instrument in protecting the rights of children. Uniquely, this convention was the only one to receive near universal ratification, with African countries comprising half of the first 20 to sign the convention. Ghana was first among these countries to ratify the convention. This set off a bandwagon effect of other African countries quickly ratifying the convention. However, a year later, African governments reacted to their low involvement in the drafting process of the UNCRC and also to what they thought to be an inadequate representation of the real experience of the African child in the UNCRC. Consequently, this group adopted their own version of the convention -the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). However, unlike the experience with the UNCRC, African nations were not quick to ratify their own Charter; the ACRWC is hardly discussed in public and policy forums in Africa, and its use among those charged with the protection of children is minimal. Using the lenses of policy diffusion, I assess the influence of coercion and emulation mechanisms on privileging the UNCRC which is used as the main organizing framework for child rights in most African countries. Additionally, I look at how Ghana's political reputation influenced other African adopters, an effect which was not replicated with the ratification of the ACRWC. Implications for social work research, policy and practice are discussed.

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Section: Discussion and Implications For Research Policy Education And Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

The diffusion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) more than the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) in Africa: The influence of coercion and emulation

Mbise

2016

International Social Work

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“…() rightly argued, more comparative research is needed in different socio‐political contexts in order to untangle the conundrum and further explore theoretical models. Further analysis could also include an investigation on a more global policy level (Axford, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As Allen () pointed out, there is a need for funding policies that will enable parents to make a choice. Consequently, more ecological models are preferred that include the policy level (Axford, ; Kröger, ) and do not reduce enrolment to the result of choice. Pungello and Kurtz‐Costes () developed an ecological model, which was later adapted by Sylva et al.…”

Section: Rationale and Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…() who added a macro policy level to the model. In this article, we look at influences of the macro level and the national level, rather than the global social policy level (Axford, ), as recent studies have shown that funding policies influence both the quality of provisions and the enrolment of low‐income children – even those under 3 years of age – in non‐parental care (Greenberg, ; Sylva et al., ). Allen () compared child care policies in Sweden, Japan and the United States, and found that availability is influenced by the level of government support, with Sweden having the highest rate of state support and consequently the highest availability for all segments of the population.…”

Section: Rationale and Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The impact of policy measures and coaching on the availability and accessibility of early child care: A longitudinal study

2013

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We conducted a study of changes in the availability, accessibility and enrolment of children from low‐income, single‐parent and ethnic minority families in early child care centres. The study was carried out in Brussels which offers unique possibilities to study accessibility in a context in which quality and costs are controlled across centres. A survey on access policies in 89 day care centres, and on 150 mothers regarding their search process, was complemented by two focus groups attended by centre directors. The results were compared with data from a similar study we conducted in 2005. The results show that while inequality in availability has remained, centre directors' awareness of social priority criteria has changed, resulting in a significant increase in the enrolment of children from single‐parent and ethnic minority families, and – to a lesser extent – an increase in the enrolment of children from low‐income families. The results support the hypothesis that policy measures, combined with support, can influence inequalities in enrolment rates.

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“…Yeates and Holden, 2009). This article gives a necessarily brief overview of the subject, with particular reference to the UK (for an extended discussion see Axford, 2011, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the influence of international governmental organisations on domestic child welfare policy and practice

Axford

2013

Adoption & Fostering

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The influence of international governmental organisations (IGOs) on child welfare policy and practice in individual sovereign states is little explored. This article sets out the nature of these bodies' main work with children. It then considers the mechanisms through which they seek to influence national child welfare policy and practice and the extent to which they can make nation states comply. 'Soft' mechanisms, such as awareness-raising, compiling statistical data and demonstration projects are contrasted with 'hard' mechanisms, such as making law and financial intervention. The article then reviews the effects of this activity and the factors explaining the varied pattern. It concludes that child welfare policy and practice are increasingly subject to supranational influence and that this has important implications for those seeking to influence this field. 1

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Children and global social policy: Exploring the impact of international governmental organisations

Cited by 7 publications

References 54 publications

The diffusion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) more than the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) in Africa: The influence of coercion and emulation

The diffusion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) more than the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) in Africa: The influence of coercion and emulation

The impact of policy measures and coaching on the availability and accessibility of early child care: A longitudinal study

Exploring the influence of international governmental organisations on domestic child welfare policy and practice

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