Abstract

This book examines the risk factors surrounding children at risk of experiencing and perpetrating violence, and looks at the positive role that children's rights can play in their protection.

The authors propose that violence in childhood is not spontaneous: that children are raised to become violent in poorly functioning families and child-unfriendly environments. They may be exposed to toxic substances in utero, to maltreatment in infancy, to domestic violence or parental criminality as they grow up. Each of these risk factors is empirically linked with the development of antisocial and aggressive behaviour, and each reflects a violation of children's rights to protection from maltreatment. The authors show how respecting children's rights and safeguarding them from exposure to violence can shift the balance between risk and protective factors and, as a result, reduce the incidence and severity of childhood violence.

This book will be essential reading for professionals working in child protection or with young offenders, academics, students, practitioners and policy-makers.

the publication of Children, Families and Violence is a very welcome addition to benefit the work of researcher, students, policy-makers, service providers and advocates who are engaged in identifying and elaborating the essential connection between violence and child rights.
Journal of Children's Services
Katherine Covell is Professor of Psychology and Executive Director of the Children's Rights Centre at Cape Breton University in Nova Scotia, Canada. Her research and teaching is focused on the developmental implications of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. She is the recipient of two excellence in teaching awards, and has published widely on children's rights research. Brian Howe is Professor of Political Science and a co-founder and co-director of the Children's Rights Centre at Cape Breton University. He is a specialist in the fields of public policy and law, children's rights, and human rights. He has published widely in the field of children's rights and human rights and is the co-author of Empowering Children: Children's Rights Education as a Pathway to Citizenship and The Challenge of Children's Rights for Canada. The Challenge was nominated for two national awards in Canada for best books on public policy.
This book helps demonstrate that early intervention work, along with work informed by real participation from children themselves, is crucial. I believe this is a challenge which we should all rise to.
Children & Young People Now
This book is an interesting and thoughtprovoking read and it is clear to any reader how much work, time and effort has gone into its publication, emphasising its central message that children and their rights should be respected to help end our society's predisposition to violence. I think this book contains a wealth of knowldge for those who work within policy, participation and education sectors. I am sure that others will find this as educational and intersting as I have.
Children & Society
A thought-provoking read from start to finish.
Professional Social Work
The book is an excellent reference tool that collates relevant reserach about issues as diverse as the effects of toxic substances, corporal punishment, abuse, partner vilence and maternal depression... This book is a valuable and orginial elaboration of rights-based approaches. It demystifes the challenges at the inter-personal, policy and cultural leveles for progress in better protecting children and promoting their well-being. It is useful for advocacy and will help those dealing with the aftermath of violence to frame their understanding and responses. It clearly links extensive reserach about children and their well-being with their human rights. Rights are no longer abstract or a legal pursuit outside of the sphere of those working with children. It also makes it clear that we all have a role to play in improving rights awareness and supporting the rights of children to be free from violence.
Journal of Children's Services