The Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory on the Rights of the Child (IRLRC) holds an annual essay contest on children's rights. The deadline for submissions for this contest is May 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
IRLRC Essay Competition on the Rights of the Child 2023-2024

2023-2024 Contest Rules

  1. Applicants must be enrolled in a program of study (Undergraduate or Graduate) at institutions hosting Canadian Association of Human Rights Institutes (CAHRI) members, i.e.: St. Thomas University, McGill University, University of Manitoba, Université Laval, UQAM, University of Saskatchewan, University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, Carleton University, McMaster University, Concordia University, York University, University of Winnipeg and University of Ottawa. Applicants may also have been enrolled in the 12 months prior to the deadline for submission of work.

  2. The competition has two categories: Undergraduate and Graduate. A three-person jury, chaired by a member of IRLRC, will determine the winners in each category. The jury reserves the right not to award a prize in either category if there is no worthy entry.

  3. Applicants must submit a paper on an issue related to children's rights. The paper must have been prepared as part of a course or for degree requirements and must include all citations and notes.

    • The paper may be the work of a single individual or a team of up to three individuals.

    • The text must be written in French or English and double-spaced, Arial font, size 12.

    • FOR BOTH CATEGORIES: Submissions must not exceed 8,000 words in length including references, notes, figures and tables (excluding Reference List/Bibliography).

  4. Submissions must be sent no later than May 15 at 11:59 p.m. and must contain:

  5. Prizes: The winning submissions in both categories, Undergraduate and Graduate, will be published by the Canadian Journal of Children’s Rights.

Winner of the 2022-2023 competition

For 2022-2023, the winner in the Graduate Category is Jacqueline Thibault, doctoral student in social work at the University of Ottawa, for her essay entitled: La nouvelle sociologie de l'enfance et les droits des enfants (The new sociology of childhood and children's rights).

Jacqueline has worked for nearly 20 years as a social worker and manager in various community and institutional organizations in Quebec, Ontario and England. Her doctoral thesis focuses on the positioning of children in the intervention policies and practices of Quebec community organizations.

The winning submission will be published by the Canadian Journal of Children’s Rightsnorth_eastexternal link in the coming weeks.

The competition is open to students from university members of the Canadian Association of Human Rights Institutes (CAHRI)north_eastexternal link, i.e.: St. Thomas University, McGill University, University of Manitoba, Université Laval, UQAM, University of Saskatchewan, University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, Carleton University, McMaster University, Concordia University, York University and University of Ottawa.

Jacqueline Thibault
Jacqueline Thibault