Content of the child’s right to identity within the scope of the Convention on the rights of the child and the Latvian national framework

Authors

  • Anastasija Jumakova University of Latvia (Latvijas Universitāte)

Keywords:

children rights, right to identity, right to preserve identity, right to name, right to private life, right to know origin, right to individuality

Abstract

One can note that the issue of children rights has always been topical and while there is still plenty of complex topics to be studied, the author yet invites to return to the basics of the child’s rights, and in particularly, to the need to protect the child’s identity as a legal value. The purpose of the article, therefore, is to clarify the meaning of the child’s right to identity enshrined in the international, and in particularly, the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, and according Latvian legislation. With the assistance of a descriptive method in conjunction with a historical method the article marks the historical events of the last quarter of the 20th century leading to formation and contemporary understanding of the right to identity. Historical remarks are followed with a smooth transition into the analysis of the international and Latvian legal framework. The used sources among others include a number of international, European and Latvian legal acts, as well as accessible interpretative manuals, monographs, comments, transcripts and other sources for a better understanding of the contents of the legislation. The named analysis has been performed with the use of legal comparative, systemic and analytical research methods.

References

Besson S., Enforcing the Child’s Right to Know her Origins: Contrasting Approaches under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the European Convention on Human Rights, “International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family” 2007, No. 21.

Blair D.M.B., The Impact of Family Paradigms, Domestic Constitutions, and International Conventions on Disclosure of an Adopted Person’s Identities and Heritage: A Comparative Examination, “Michigan Journal of International Law” 2001, Vol. 22.

Blauwhoff R.J., Foundational facts, relative truths: A comparative law study on children’s right to know their genetic origins, Antwerp 2009.

Cerda J.S., The Draft Convention on the Rights of the Child: New Rights, “Human Rights Quarterly” 1990, vol. 12.

Cohen C.P., Elasticity of Obligation and the Drafting of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, “Connecticut Journal of International Law” 1987, No. 71.

Cohen C.P., Introductory Note to the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child. “International Legal Materials” 1989.

Danovskis E., Ruķers M., Lībiņa-Egner I., 96. Ikvienam ir tiesības uz privātās dzīves, mājokļa un korespondences neaizskaramību, [in:]: Latvijas Republikas Satversmes komentāri: VIII nodaļa Cilvēka pamattiesības, ed. R. Balodis, A. Endziņš, T. Jundzis et al, Rīga Latvijas Vēstnesis 2011.

Heimerle N., International Law and Identity Rights for Adopted Children, “Adoption Quarterly” 2003, Vol. 7 (2).

Hodgson D., The International Legal Protection of the Child’s Right to a Legal Identity and the Problems of Statelessness, “International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family” 1993, Vol. 7 (2).

Kovaļevska A., Personas tiesības uz savu attēlu, Valsts Cilvēktiesību birojs, 2005: http://providus.lv/article_files/1583/original/attel_tiesib.pdf?1332251075 (25.07.2020).

Marshall J., Concealed Births, Adoption and Human Rights: Being Wary of Seeking to Open Windows into People’s Soul, “Cambridge Law Journal” 2012, Vol. 71 (2).

Marshall J., Personal freedom throughout Human Rights Law: Autonomy, Identity and Integrity under the European Convention on Human rights. International Studies in Human Rights, 2009.

McCombs T., Gonzalez J. S., Right to Identity, International Human Rights Law Clinic, University of California, Berkeley School of Law 2007: http://scm.oas.org/pdfs/2007/CP19277.PDF (26.07.2020).

O’Donovan K., “Real” mothers for Abandoned Children, “Law and Society Review” 2002, Vol. 36, No.2.

Parra-Aranguren G., Explanatory Report on the 1993 Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention: https://www.hcch.net/en/publications-and-studies/details4/?pid=2279 (25.07.2020).

Ronen Y., Redefining the Child’s Right to Identity, “International Journal of Law and the Family” 2004, Vol. 18.

Sants H.J., Genealogical Bewilderment in Children with Substitute Parents, “British Journal of Medical Psychology” 1964, Vol. 37.

Scolnicov A., The Child’s Right to Religious Freedom and Formation of Identity, “International Journal of Children’s Rights” 2007, Vol. 15.

Stewart G.A., Interpreting the Child’s Right to Identity in the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, “Family Law Quarterly” 1992-1993, Vol.26.

van Bueren G., The International Law on the Rights of the Child, 1998.

Wellisch E., Children Without Genealogy – A Problem of Adoption, “Mental Health” 1952, Vol. 13.

Implementation Handbook For The Convention On The Rights Of The Child, United Nations Children’s Fund 2007.

Theory and Practice of the European Convention on Human Rights, edited by P. van Dijk, F. van Hoof, A. van Rijn, L. Zwaak and others, Antwerpen – Oxford Intersentia 2006.

Judgement of ECHR of 29 April 2002 (Application no. 2346/02) in the case of Pretty v. United Kingdom.

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine: https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/rms/090000168007cf98 (access: 26.07.2020).

Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption: https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/full-text/?cid=69 (access: 25.07.2020).

Convention on the Rights of the Child: https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx (access: 25.07.2020).

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx (access: 25.07.2020).

Declaration of the Rights of the Child: http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/humanrights/resources/child.asp (access: 25.07.2020).

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translations/eng.pdf (access: 25.07.2020).

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Official Journal of the European Union, C 83/289, 30.3.2010.

European Convention on the Adoption of Children (Revised): https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/rms/0900001680084823 (access: 26.07.2020).

Council Directive 2004/83/EC of 29 April 2004 on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection and the content of the protection granted. OJ L 304, 30.9.2004.

Latvijas Republikas Satversme : LR likums. Latvijas Vēstnesis, 1993. 1.jūlijs, Nr. 43. English translation: The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia: https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/57980-the-constitution-of-the-republic-of-latvia (access: 26.07.2020).

Bērnu tiesību aizsardzības likums : LR likums. Latvijas Vēstnesis, 1998. 19. jūlijs, Nr.199/200. English translation: Law on the Protection of the Children's Rights: https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/49096-law-on-the-protection-of-the-childrens-rights (access: 26.07.2020).

Biometrijas datu apstrādes sistēmas likums : LR likums. Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2009. 10. jūnijs, Nr.90/4076. English translation: Biometric Data Processing System Law: https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/193111-biometric-data-processing-system-law (access: 26.07.2020).

Grozījumi Bērnu tiesību aizsardzības likumā : LR likums. Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2000. 28. marts, Nr.11/112. English translation: Amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Children’s Rights.

Latvijas Republikas Civillikums : LR likums. Valdības Vēstnesis, 1937. gada 20. februāris, Nr. 41; Ziņotājs, 1993. 10. jūnijs, Nr. 22. English translation: The Civil law of the Republic of Latvia: https://likumi.lv/ta/id/90223-civillikums-pirma-dala-gimenes-tiesibas (access: 26.07.2020).

Likuma “Grozījumi Bērnu tiesību aizsardzības likumā” 1. lasījums. Latvijas Republikas 7. Saeimas rudens sesijas vienpadsmitā sēde. Saeimas arhīvs: http://www.saeima.lv/steno/1999/st2810.html (access: 26.07.2020). English translation: The first of review of the law „Amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Children's Rights”. Eleventh sitting of the autumn session of the 7th Parliament of the Republic of Latvia;

Likuma “Grozījumi Bērnu tiesību aizsardzības likumā” 2. lasījums. Latvijas Republikas 7. Saeimas rudens sesijas deviņpadsmitā sēde. Saeimas arhīvs: http://www.saeima.lv/steno/1999/st1612.html (access: 26.07.2020). English translation: The second of review of the law „Amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Children's Rights”. Nineteenth sitting of the autumn session of the 7th Saeima of the Republic of Latvia.

Likuma “Grozījumi Bērnu tiesību aizsardzības likumā” 3. lasījums. Latvijas Republikas 7. Saeimas ziemas sesijas vienpadsmitā sēde. Saeimas arhīvs: http://www.saeima.lv/steno/2000/st0903.html (access: 26.07.2020). English translation: The third of review of the law „Amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Children's Rights”. Eleventh Session of the 7th Saeima of the Republic of Latvia.

Saeimas Cilvēktiesību un sabiedrisko lietu komisijas 1999.gada 30. novembra projekts 2. lasījumam “Priekšlikumi likumprojektam “Grozījumi Bērnu tiesību aizsardzības likumā””: http://helios-web.saeima.lv/bin/lasa?LP0381_2 (access: 12.06.2019). English translation: Draft of the Human Rights and Public Affairs Commission of the Parliament of November 30, 1999 for the Second Review “Proposals for the draft law „Amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Child””.

Explanatory Report on European Convention on the Adoption of Children, Treaty Office of Council of Europe: http://www.conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Reports/Html/058.htm (access: 26.07.2020).

History of Argentina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Argentina (access: 25.07.2020).

Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Disappearances/Pages/DisappearancesIndex.aspx (access: 25.07.2020).

Downloads

Published

2021-03-27

How to Cite

Content of the child’s right to identity within the scope of the Convention on the rights of the child and the Latvian national framework. (2021). Miscellanea Historico-Iuridica, 19(1), 223-244. https://miscellanea.uwb.edu.pl/article/view/490

Similar Articles

1-10 of 159

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.