What's Wrong with Children's Rights

This provocative examination of children's rights law challenges conventional wisdom about child advocacy, tracing how well-intentioned policies in foster care, adoption, and visitation often serve adult interests rather than children's needs. Guggenheim presents a carefully reasoned analysis of the most contentious debates within the children's rights movement, arguing that the rhetoric of protecting children frequently masks complicated power dynamics and competing agendas. His critique extends beyond specific cases to question the very foundation of how society conceptualizes and implements legal protections for young people.

What distinguishes this work is its willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about who truly benefits from children's rights frameworks—often parents, social workers, or advocacy groups rather than the children themselves. The book's strength lies in its nuanced approach to complex legal and ethical questions, avoiding simplistic solutions while clearly identifying systemic problems. Readers interested in family law, child welfare policy, or social justice will find compelling arguments that demand reconsideration of long-held assumptions about protecting society's most vulnerable members.