THE ROLE OF RESEARCH IN IMPLEMENTING THE UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

The most realistic hope that the Convention on the Rights of the Child (U.N. General Assembly 1989) actually will bring about changed condit ions and changed behavior is through promoting research, because resea rch is the only enforcement tool provided for in the Convention. Artic les 43, 44, and 45 of the Convention invite a collaboration among sign atories, the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child, and researcher s who can help design studies and provide technical assistance. This a rticle examines some of the difficulties that research on this subject will need to consider and overcome if the effort is to succeed.