APP 3: Universality and diversities
One of the problems that we encounter when we propose the notion of universality is related to the need of making sense of children’s rights among the diversities represented by every culture and every person.
If on one side we can of course recognise the universality and immediateness of the CRC’s principles and provisions, in parallel we have to consider that the contents of the Convention should be perceived as legitimate and meaningful by persons, groups and peoples.
In this perspective, the consideration of differences and diversities should always be a key dimension to promote children’s rights and "translate" them in sustainable culturally relevant models and practices. It is undeniable that thus far insufficient efforts have been devoted to this endeavour, which by the way is also supported and systemically informed by the principles related to non-discrimination.
We should pay specific attention to this point also in relation to the actual need of the child protection systems to embrace and adapt to the variables brought by the interaction with persons or people coming from contexts where the very notion of "right" is influenced by many diverse cultural elements.
The problem will be then how to propose the CRC as an instrument and a platform that could accompany cultural change and determine a new transcultural dimension, where children’s rights are not just respected but fully recognised and eventually fully integrated.
Again, the connection (or re-connection) of the CRC with other human rights instruments also related with cultural rights and diversities could help in this effort.
The language and the narration proposed by and through human rights should establish dynamic links with other cultures and narrations in order to achieve meaning and efficacy.
We also have to consider that a paradigm proposing universality should necessarily include children, their perception and their understanding. This assumption strongly suggests that no universality is possible without participation. Of course, by participation we consider not just the act of participating but also the capacity of a context to consider someone (although diverse) as part of the system.
