Potential tension between children’s engagement in work and the rights of the child : Resolving the conflict using margin of appreciation doctrine

This paper finds out whether the Margin of Appreciation can accommodate children’s engagement in work in the field of human rights in rural and urban Ghana drawing on the experiences and perceptions of 60 participants. Qualitative exploratory study was undertaken using semi-structured interviews with parents of children who both were and were not involved in child work (10), and stakeholders, including government officials and NGO representatives (10); focus groups (30); and participant observation techniques (10) in order to gather the needed data. The average age of participants was 31 years. Participants were purposively sampled across rural areas (Ankaase, Anwiankwanta and Kensere), and urban areas (Jamestown, Korle Gonno and Chorkor). Interviews were recorded, and transcribed, using a framework approach as the main data analysis method. The paper argues that there is the need to understand diversity in the field of human rights and accommodate the best interests of the child to local contexts.