Children: Rights and Childhood is widely regarded as the first book to offer a detailed philosophical examination of children's rights. Drawing on a wide variety of sources from law and literature to politics and psychology, David Archard provides a clear and accessible introduction to a topic that has assumed increasing relevance since the book's first publication.

Divided clearly into three parts, Children: Rights and Childhood covers key topics such as:

• John Locke's writings on children
• Philippe Aries's Centuries of Childhood
• key texts on children's liberation and rights
• a child's right to vote and to sexual choice
• the rights of parents and the state over children
• defining and understanding child abuse.

The second edition has been fully revised and updated including a new preface, a new chapter on children's moral and legal rights, taking into account the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

'An exhaustive and meticulously comprehensive examination of children's rights from both a moral and a legal perspective...a fine basic text, and a worthwhile introduction to the complex issue of children's rights.' Metapsychology

'This is an intellectually stimulating and sometimes controversial philosophical analysis of children and their rights of both general and professional interest.' - Journal of the Institute of Health Education

'The argument is clear, it is well reasoned and balanced ... this is a thought-provoking text and as such a highly recommendable read. Its audience could range from policy-makers to sixth-formers.' - Children & Society

David Archard is Professor of Philosophy and Public Policy at Lancaster University.