Practical Handbook on Children’s Rights – The Austrian Federal Constitutional Law on Children’s Rights and its Significance in the Daily Work of Professionals

About the Project

The project aims to raise awareness of children’s rights in Austria and facilitate their practical implementation. A comprehensive handbook will be compiled containing legal principles, international and European developments and practical examples of application.

Research Topic and Roadmap

Despite the constitutional status of the Austrian Federal Constitutional Law on Children’s Rights (BVG Kinderrechte), many children’s rights are still insufficiently considered in practice. The Practical Handbook on Children’s Rights aims to counteract these shortcomings by providing a comprehensive analysis of the BVG Kinderrechte and its practical significance. The handbook aims to provide professionals in justice, administration, education, and social work with a solid foundation for the consistent application of children’s rights. It highlights the interdependencies of different children’s rights and connects national and international developments.

More specifically, the project will:

  • examine the eight articles of the BVG Kinderrechte in the context of national and international case law
  • analyze the implementation of children’s rights provisions in various practical fields
  • identify relevant legal developments and international recommendations
  • develop a practice-oriented commentary with case studies and guidelines
  • establish a link with current issues such as climate protection, digital safety, and child protection
    Research Focus

Research Focus

Key aspects of the project are:

  • children’s rights in practice
  • a legal analysis and commentary on the BVG provisions
  • protection and participation, in particular with regard to the best interests of the child, prohibition of violence and participation rights
  • the international perspective with regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and European standards
  • the creation of guidelines and recommendations for the judiciary, administration and professionals

Research Method

The methodological approach includes:

  • Legal Analysis: commentary on BVG provisions and relevant case law
  • Comparative Perspective: international standards and their implementation in Austria
  • Practice Orientation: provision of concrete recommendations, case analyses and practical examples

The scope of the practical handbook is very broad, extending beyond legal analysis, and will reach both actors in contact with children and, as a result, children themselves.

Projektdaten

  • Project title: Practical Handbook on Children’s Rights – The Austrian Federal Constitutional Law on Children’s Rights and its Significance in the Daily Work of Professionals
  • Project Consortium (Austria): Helmut Sax (legal expert and Senior Researcher, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights), Lioba Kasper (former lawyer), Sebastian Öhner (Children’s and Youth Advocate of the City of Vienna)
  • Project Team LBI-GMR: Helmut Sax
  • Project Duration: 12/2024 – 12/2026
  • Funding Body: Austrian Federal Chancellery (BKA funding on children’s rights)
  • LBI-GMR Research Group: Human Dignity and Public Security