A framework for implementing the right of the child to play: space, time, acceptance, rights-informed

Abstract The child’s right to play is of critical importance to every aspect of a child’s life. Implementation of this right is crucial for the health, development, and wellbeing of the child, and the successful realization of a plethora of other children’s rights. Yet, States continue to fail to prioritize or take steps to implement the right. In part, this is due to difficulties in understanding what measures States should take for its fulfilment. Neglect of the right to play has led to crises in children’s mental and physical health, evident globally. Following doctrinal, empirical, and archival research and interdisciplinary literature analysis into the nature and content of the right to play, a framework for realizing the right emerged able to encompass many of the obligations pertaining to the right to play. This framework includes four core components: space, time, acceptance, and rights-informed. The paper develops each aspect of this framework. Discussions with those involved in play advocacy suggests that such a framework will be beneficial for supporting greater implementation of the child’s right to play in practice, as well as deeper understanding of the content of the right.