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SUMMARY. How are we to justify our criticisms of current policies in relation to children? This paper, delivered as the Fourth Brian Jackson Memorial Lecture at Huddersfield Polytechnic on 6 November 1987, argues that we need to address the questions of why we ought to take children's rights seriously and of how this can be done. The article examines the moral grounds for rights for children and concludes by suggesting some institutional changes including the establishment of a Children's Ombudsperson. The suggestion is also made that a 'child impact statement' should be attached to all new legislation and other major policy statements.

AbstractOver 3,000 men are imprisoned each year for maintenance default. At any one time there are on average about 300 men in prison for this reason. It costs the State over one and a quarter million pounds a year to keep these men in prison. Yet, despite concern with overcrowding, no initiative is being taken to remove the sanction of imprisonment. This article surveys available evidence on who is imprisoned and argues the case for abolition. In particular the inappropriateness of using criminal sanctions to enforce family obligations is stressed. The case for imprisonment is usually grounded in deterrence. This argument is considered critically.