Thomson, M orcid.org/0000-0002-1570-2481 (2021) A capabilities approach to best interests assessments. Legal Studies. ISSN 0261-3875
Abstract
It is an accepted principle of domestic and international law and policy that the welfare or best interests of the child must be the primary or paramount consideration in any decision made with regard to that child's upbringing. While this ‘best interests standard’ has become a core principle of welfare law, what might constitute a child or young person's best interests is given very little formal shape or content. This has provoked sustained criticism from practitioners, academics and the judiciary. In response, this paper argues that the capabilities approach can give best interests assessments much needed normative content, thereby addressing many of the criticisms directed towards the standard. The approach provides a theoretically nuanced framework for theorising about basic social justice and for evaluation, deliberation, and policy development across social welfare sectors. In arguing for a capabilities approach to best interests assessments, the paper sets out an agenda for change. It addresses the conceptual and methodological justifications for this change, and explores the empirical work that would be required. It identifies the steps and underlying principles necessary for a best interests process aligned with the capabilities approach, providing the necessary foundations for a radical reconceptualisation of best interests processes.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press. This article has been published in a revised form in Legal Studies: https://doi.org/10.1017/lst.2020.47. This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. |
Keywords: | family law; child law; capabilities approach; children's rights; best interest; welfare |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law (Leeds) > School of Law (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 10 Dec 2020 11:51 |
Last Modified: | 05 Mar 2021 05:22 |
Status: | Published online |
Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
Identification Number: | 10.1017/lst.2020.47 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:168868 |