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.

‘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 - Professor of Law and DM Wolfe-Clarendon Fellow in Law, 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 - Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa and Lawyer in Family and Immigration Law, Law Society of Ontario

This monograph is a unique and comprehensive analysis of the international law on the rights of the girl child. Dr. Chapdelaine-Feliciati reveals the significance of silence in international law when it comes to violations predominantly or specifically experienced by girl children. Her legal semiotics method captures weaknesses in international treaties for girl children in the Global South and the Global North, and identifies solutions to improve their condition. This book is a ‘must have’ for legal scholars, lawyers, and policymakers in the field of human rights and international law.

Anuppiriya Sriskandarajah - Associate Professor, Children, Childhood and Youth Program and Centre for Asian Research, York University, co-founder Girls’ Studies Research Network

‘Where does the girl child reside in international law, whether within the broad category of ‘children’ or subsumed under ‘women’? Clara Chapdelaine-Feliciati confronts this question head-on through an ambitious methodological synthesis that combines Lady Welby’s late-Victorian theory of Significs, a precursor to semiotics, with contemporary treaty analysis … Beyond methodology, the book consolidates a vast body of dispersed sources, from treaty body general comments to UN resolutions, into a single analytical arc. For researchers, this provides not only a critique but also a reference work that synthesizes debates across multiple fora … Finally, the prescriptive ambition of the book signals a refusal to remain at the level of diagnosis … It frames scholarship as ethically responsible, not merely critical … Whether or not one shares the author’s optimism about the transformative potential of textual amendment, this book will remain a touchstone for debates about the intersection of language, rights, and visibility in international law.’

Shisong Jiang Source: Social & Legal Studies (2026) pp.1-5, DOI: 10.1177/09646639251385049

‘Drawing on Lady Welby’s Meaning Triad, Chapdelaine-Feliciati demonstrates how seemingly neutral legal language can enable interpretive discretion that undermines treaty intentions, allowing harmful practices such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, and the exploitation of child influencers to persist. The author moves beyond a purely semiotic framework by introducing a semioethic approach, emphasizing ethical responsibility in legal interpretation … While proposing amendments to address this invisibility, the author also recognizes competing rights and cautions against reforms that could unintentionally harm girls’ autonomy … The work represents a significant contribution to international human rights scholarship and the advancement of girls’ rights.'

Frésange Maleka Source: International Journal for the Semiotics of Law