State parties’ self-reported adherence to Article 31’s right of the child to play: A systematic content analysis

Article 31 of the introduction of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) legally protects children’s right to rest, leisure, play, recreation, and cultural and artistic activities. Concerns for the adequate realisation of Article 31 have been longstanding, with the right to play particularly requiring greater attention. This research aims to understand how states are self-reporting right to play observance within the wider context of Article 31 rights. A systematic content analysis was completed with relevant sections of 174 state party reports using Article 31 domains and General Comment 17 factors as an evaluative framework. The framework identified six overarching themes: play-related guidance, play-related legislation, supplemental play guidance, supplemental play legislation, explicit play guidance, and explicit play legislation. Findings explore each theme in relation to the right to play as situated within Article 31, the right to play as defined by General Comment 17, and additional inductive codes. State conceptualisations and implementation of children’s right to play are discussed in addition to state reporting implications.