A UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Case Study

doi:10.1017/9781009655859.011

7 - A UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Case Study

The Sacchi et al. Case

from Part III - Case Studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 September 2025

Peter Lawrence and

Michael Reder

Nicky Dijk

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Peter Lawrence: Affiliation:
University of Tasmania
Michael Reder: Affiliation:
Hochschule fur Philosophie Munchen

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Summary

Chapter 7 involves an analysis of the 2019 case brought to the UN committee on the rights of the child by 16 young people (Saachi et al. 2019). The case is assessed in terms of its legitimacy and effectiveness in promoting intergenerational justice discourses and its capacity to act as an indirect proxy representative for future generations. The chapter argues that while there are distinct limitations in the rights of the child complaints system (with an asymmetry in power between children and the states involved, with decisions being non-binding), the Saachi case, nevertheless, has the potential to have both a political and legal impact. It is one of the few avenues at the international level which allows young people increasingly impacted by climate change to have a voice. It can also allow young people to act as proxy representatives for future generations, while the Committee to date has been reticent to move in this direction. Finally, some elements of the decision are likely to be taken up in future climate litigation at the international and national levels.

Keywords

Climate litigation complaints under the rights of the child convention Saachi et al. case youth climate impacts future generations

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Representing Future Generations
Climate Change and the Global Legal Order
, pp. 178 - 199

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009655859.011 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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