Protección jurídica de la infancia y la adolescencia en España tras la aprobación de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de los derechos del Niño de 1989

Abstract

The present paper is about the regulation appliable to childhood and adolescence in the Spanish Law, with special emphasis on the changes derived from the entry into force of the 1978 Spanish Constitution and its influence in the Civil Law area. The article hast two parts. First one begins with the description of origins of the preoccupation for children and teenagers, at the end of the 18th century and the progressive development of politics focused on their protection during the 19th century. Below, there is a brief exposition of the international dimension of scientific and legal treatment, beginning with the celebration of conferences and congresses dedicated to children and continuing with 1924 and 1959 declarations of the rights of the child. Finally, there is another brief description, focused on the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child. The second part is centered on the Spanish Law and its rules for the protection of children and teenagers. Firstly, there is a brief historical description, centered over the Spanish perspective in the progressive and growing interest in childhood. Secondly, there is a legal description of Spanish Law rules on the subject, beginning with 1978 Spanish Constitution and continuing with the enumeration of modifications of Civil Law acts, derived from the return of Spain to democracy and the ratification of 1989 Convention.