Vol.:(0123456789)
International Review of Education
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-024-10103-8
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BOOK REVIEW
Child migration and human rights in a global age
Jacqueline Bhaba. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2014, 374
pp. ISBN 978-0-691-14360-6 (hbk), ISBN 978-0-691-16910-1 (pbk),
ISBN 978-1-40085016-7 (eBook)
Jacqueline Żammit
1
© The Author(s) under joint exclusive license to UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning and Springer Nature
B.V., part of Springer Nature 2024
Jacqueline Bhabha’s Child Migration and Human Rights in a Global Age is an
essential and groundbreaking exploration of the complex issues surrounding child
migration in today’s interconnected world. As a professor at Harvard University,
Bhabha leverages her extensive expertise in human rights to provide a comprehen-
sive and poignant analysis of the challenges faced by migrant children globally.
The book is written with clarity and passion, making complex legal and politi-
cal analyses accessible to a broad audience. Bhabha’s eloquence and empathy shine
through, making the book both informative and moving. Bhabha employs a mul-
tidisciplinary approach, combining historical analysis, legal critique and qualita-
tive research. Her use of personal narratives from young migrants adds a poignant,
humanising element to the scholarly rigour of the text, making the issues more tan-
gible and urgent.
Structured into three parts featuring a total of seven chapters, the book is meticu-
lously organised to guide readers through the multifaceted nature of child migration.
Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of child migration and human rights. This
structure allows readers to grasp the breadth and depth of the issue systematically.
In her introductory chapter, which precedes Part I, Bhabha sets the stage by pre-
senting an overview of the historical and contemporary landscape of child migra-
tion. In the five chapters of Parts I and II, she then delves into specific themes such
as the legal frameworks governing child migration, the psychological and social
impacts on young migrants, and the various forms of exploitation and vulnerability
they face. The last two chapters, presented in Part III, offer a critical analysis of cur-
rent policies and propose practical solutions for better protection and integration of
migrant children. The backmatter comprises a Notes section and an Index.
* Jacqueline Żammit
jacqueline.zammit@um.edu.mt
1
University of Malta, Msida, Malta