Contents
1.
2.
Introduction
3
1.1
1.2
3
3
Literature Review
5
2.1
Child Rights Litigation in Europe
5
2.1.1 Litigant Roles
2.1.2 Child Participation
6
7
Particularities of Childhood Statelessness
Unanswered Questions
8
9
2.2
2.3
3.
Methodology
11
3.1
Court Data Collection Method
11
3.1.1 Step One: Initial Analysis of Cases
3.1.2 Step Two: Targeted Analysis of Jurisdictions
11
11
Interview Data Collection
Ethical Concerns and Limitations
12
12
3.2
3.3
4.
Research Context and Relevance
Research Questions
Findings
13
4.1
Multiple Litigants
13
4.1.1 Parent and Child as Co-Litigants: Blurred Lines
4.1.2 Third-Party Litigants: Positive Influence, No Guarantee
14
16
Special Representatives: Influence of Procedure on a Child’s Right to Be Heard
17
4.2.1 Concerns Encountered in Practice
4.2.2 Family Courts: A Model
18
21
International Obligations in Domestic Law
22
4.3.1 The CRC: Lacking Domestic Power
4.3.2 Statelessness: Jurisdictional Matters
22
23
4.2
4.3
5.
Conclusion
26
6.
Recommendations
27
6.1
6.2
27
28
Litigator-Generated Safeguards
Lobbying for Domestication of the CRC and the 1961 Convention
7.
Final Thoughts
29
8.
ANNEX A
30
9.
ANNEX B
32
10.
ANNEX C
34