The Status of the Girl Child under International Law: A Semioethic Analysis

by Clara Chapdelaine-Feliciati

Overview

Clara Chapdelaine-Feliciati offers the first comprehensive study of the status of the girl child under international law. This book significantly contributes to bridging two fields usually studied separately: law and semiotics. The author engages in the novel legal semiotics theory to decode the meaning of international treaties (mainly the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and International Covenants) and assess whether the provisions, as formulated, clearly identify the girl child and take into account the obstacles she faces as a result of sexism, childism, and intersectional discrimination. This is also the first book to apply The Significs Meaning Triad – Sense, Meaning, Significance – in international law, and Semioethics for both a diagnosis and prognosis of problematic signs in view of modifying the wording of relevant treaties.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009080729
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/13/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Dr Clara Chapdelaine-Feliciati (DPhil in Law, University of Oxford) is an International Lawyer, Associate Professor and UKHEA Senior Fellow. She has worked for the International Criminal Court, UNICEF Office of Research, British, Chinese and Canadian universities, and provided legal expertise to governments. She authored Feminicides of Girl Children: An International Law Approach (Brill 2018) and was awarded the SSHRC IDG, SSHRC Explore, and Global Impact Grant for her novel international legal semiotics theory.

Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. Semiotics and Semioethics; 2. Definition of the Girl Child; 3. Sexism and Childism; 4. Intersectional Identity of the Girl Child; 5. Identification of the Girl Child in the Convention on the Rights of the Child; 6. The Beginning of Girlhood under International Law; 7. The End of Girlhood under International Law; 8. Girlhood and Womanhood in the CEDAW.

Editorial Reviews

‘The Status of the Girl Child under International Law is a remarkable book. Drawing on both law and semiotics theory it provides a rich, insightful study of the position of the girl child in international law. It is essential reading for those interested in children’s rights; violence against girls; and gender and law.’ Jonathan Herring, University of Oxford

‘The Status of the Girl Child under International Law is a meticulously researched and timely exploration of the unique vulnerabilities and rights of the girl child within the framework of international law. What sets this book apart is its focused lens: rather than general discussions on children’s rights or women's rights, it zeroes in on the intersectional and often overlooked status of the girl child - a demographic caught between global gender norms and age-based vulnerabilities. By highlighting the unique vulnerabilities of the girl child, the book fills a critical gap in global human rights discourse. It is a valuable resource for scholars, legal practitioners, and advocates committed to advancing the rights of girls around the world.’ Julie Ada Tchoukou, University of Ottawa

From the Publisher