Online Symposium

“Right to a Future, Rights of a Child"
Online Symposium

This year marks the centennial of Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 (1925), a landmark United States Supreme Court decision establishing the rights of parents to direct their children’s education. A century later, debates over children’s rights remain central to legal and political discourse worldwide. Building on keynotes and presentations from a University of Lucerne interdisciplinary international conference—“The Right to a Future, Rights of a Child”—this symposium presents three thought-provoking essays examining contemporary issues in children’s rights.

The first piece, “Education about Human Rights is a Human Right,” by Stefanie Uhl, PhD candidate at the University of Lucerne, argues that public libraries are tasked—and should understand themselves as tasked—with the mandate of advancing the human right of education. By framing education as an essential component of human dignity, the article explores how libraries serve as access points for knowledge, empowerment, and democratic participation.

The second piece, “The Duty-Bearers of the Rights of the Child,” by Elena Namli, Professor of Theological Ethics at Uppsala University, examines how various public actors—states, international bodies, and civil society more generally—uphold children’s rights in practice. This discussion surfaces gaps in enforcement and calls for accountability in securing fundamental protections for children.

Finally, “Artificial Intelligence—an Analysis from the Rights of the Child Perspective,” by Peter G. Kirchschlaeger, Professor of Theological Ethics and Director of the Institute of Social Ethics ISE at the University of Lucerne, highlights the growing intersection of technology and children’s rights, raising urgent concerns about AI’s role in shaping and impacting children’s experiences, privacy, and digital autonomy.

Together, these pieces provide a wide-ranging examination of children’s rights in an era of rapid social and technological change. The issues these pieces raise call for attention from policymakers, scholars, and advocates. We hope this Online Symposium fosters dialogue and points toward pathways for ensuring a just and sustainable future for the next generation.