Mastering International Children's Rights: Academic Pathways and Professional Impact

Mastering International Children’s Rights: Academic Pathways and Professional Impact Enhancing Accountability for Children’s Rights
10th Anniversary Celebration of the Advanced LL.M. in International Children’s Rights at Leiden University

About the conference     
As we mark 10 years of the Master of Laws: Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights at Leiden University, we do so against the backdrop of three historic milestones: 100 years since the first international Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1924), 35 years since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), and 10 years since the entry into force of the Third Optional Protocol to the CRC on a Communications Procedure (OPIC), which has strengthened children’s access to justice at the international level. 

These anniversaries invite both celebration and reflection. While they represent remarkable progress in the promotion and protection of children’s rights, they also call on us to confront the pressing challenges that remain and the new ones rapidly emerging. The convergence of armed conflict, climate change, forced displacement, rising inequality, digital harms, and economic instability has created what UNICEF has called a ‘polycrisis’, with children bearing the brunt of its consequences. In addition, a growing global pushback against human rights and specifically children’s rights, has put core principles under pressure, threatening to undo decades of progress. In this context, the demand for skilled professionals who can uphold international legal standards and hold duty bearers accountable through legal and systemic avenues is critical.

Legal expertise alone, however, is not enough. Strengthening accountability also demands global solidarity, across borders, disciplines, and sectors and sustained global conversations to share knowledge, confront emerging challenges, and build common ground. Networks of children’s rights professionals, scholars, advocates, and institutions play a vital role in supporting this work and driving forward a shared agenda for justice. The 10th anniversary of the Master of Laws: Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights at Leiden University provides a significant opportunity to reflect on this mission and reaffirm our collective commitment to equipping future leaders to protect and promote children’s rights in an increasingly complex world.

Master of Laws: Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights
The Master of Laws: Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights (LL.M.) at Leiden University is a pioneering programme that offers an in-depth focus on international children’s rights. Since its inception, the programme has provided a unique interdisciplinary approach, combining international, regional and national legal frameworks with practical applications to address real-world challenges affecting children globally. The fully accredited programme offers an innovative and multi-dimensional approach to international children’s rights in relation to human rights law, private international law, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, criminal justice, migration, digital technologies, the environment and access to justice for children, among others, and has continued to evolve since its inception in 2015.

Looking back over the decade, the programme has stood out due to its uniqueness in being the only LL.M. offering an advanced legal degree in international children’s rights. The expert instructors, including leading human rights and children's rights professionals, and guest lecturers from institutions such as the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF and global and local civil society organisations, have contributed immensely to the programme’s success. The programme prides itself on its international classroom and personalized learning environment, offering small-scale teaching and individual guidance to help students succeed. Over the past 10 years, the programme has equipped students to promote and protect children's rights globally, address the impact of global crises and understand the evolving legal landscape of children's rights in various contexts. It has grown into a globally recognized programme, delivering graduates who are making significant contributions in various sectors, including international organizations, government agencies, private sector and academia.

Anniversary event 
The anniversary event will feature a keynote speech by Dr. Marta Santos Pais, former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, who has been instrumental in shaping the global agenda on children’s rights. A high-level panel discussion will also bring together leading voices, including Prof. Cecilia Bailliet, the UN Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity. With expertise spanning international law, human rights, and global cooperation, the panel will explore how international solidarity and global dialogue are vital to advancing children’s rights and addressing persistent accountability gaps. These discussions underscore that preparing the next generation of children’s rights professionals is not only an academic endeavour but a moral and legal imperative.

Conference speakers

Target audience 
Public (professionals and researchers), alumni, students (Dutch and international), staff and external supporters of the programme (e.g. board of advisors).

Remote attendance      

Unfortunately, remote attendance is not available for this conference.

Visual materials
Recordings will be made for educational purposes. Please note that a photographer will also be present during the event. If you have any objections, please inform the organization via events@law.leidenuniv.nl. 

Do you have any questions? 
We will gladly answer them. 

E-mail: events@law.leidenuniv.nl
Phone: +31 (0)71 527 8666 
All contact details

Mastering International Children’s Rights: Academic Pathways and Professional Impact Enhancing Accountability for Children’s Rights

Programme
Friday 29 August 2025

€60 per person, including light breakfast and lunch.