“if you had a problem in the black community and you brought in a group of white people to discuss...
TRANSCRIPT
“If you had a problem in the Black community and you brought in a group of White people to discuss how to solve it, almost nobody would take that panel seriously. In fact, there’d probably be a public outcry. It would be the same for women’s issues or gay issues.
But every day, in local arenas all the way to the White House, adults sit around and decide what problems youth have and what youth need, without ever consulting us.”
- Jason, 17, Youth Force Member, Bronx, NY
Key issues The right to participation is one of the fundamental
values and guiding principles of the CRC
However, both governments and donors have tended to address child participation in rather limited ways
Introduction
Topics: Definition of what is meant by authentic, meaningful
child participation
Steps to develop an environment conducive to realizing participation rights
Interventions for integrating participation within programming
Session map
Child participation is The on-going process of children’s expression and active
involvement in decision-making in matters that concern them.
It requires Information-sharing and dialogue between children and
adults based on mutual respect Full consideration of children’s views, taking into account
the child’s age and maturity.
Definition of participation
Child Participation
Rights
Respect for children’s evolving capacities (Art. 5)
Right to information
(Art.17)
Right to representation in
criminal proceedings (Art. 40)
Right to legal advice when deprived of
liberty (Art. 40)
Right to knowledge of the
CRC (Art. 42)
Right to freedom in play
(Art. 31) Freedom of
expression, religion, association
(Art.13, 14,15)
Right to be heard if separated from parents (Art. 9)
Right to be listened to and taken seriously
(Art. 12)
Right of children with disabilities to participate (Art. 23)
Not only a right in itself; also a prerequisite for the exercise of all other rights Participation protects children
Children who are silenced and passive can be abused by adults with relative impunity
Participation leads to better health outcomes Children who have information about health &
sexuality are better able to protect themselves Participation contributes to personal
development Empowered children can become active and
effective advocates for their own rights
Child participation
Despite widespread recognition that child participation is a fundamental human right, there still remain some powerful challenges to its universal acceptance.
For each statement, indicate whether the statement is fact or fiction If you decide the statement is fact, provide a justification If you decide the statement is fiction, provide a
counterargument
Fact or Fiction?
To be meaningful, effective, ethical, systematic and sustainable, participation must be: Transparent and informative Voluntary Respectful Relevant to children’s lives Child-friendly Inclusive Supported by training for adults Safe and sensitive to risk Accountable
Meaningful participation
1. A mother playing with a very young child.
Yes, this is an example of meaningful participation, since every child can express views in accordance with his or her level of maturity.
No, this is not an example of meaningful participation since the child is too young to be able to express his/her views.
Which of the following are examples of meaningful participation?
2. A child giving evidence in court.
Yes, this is an example of meaningful participation, since he is engaged in a legal proceeding that affect him.
No, this is not an example of meaningful participation
Which of the following are examples of meaningful participation?
3. Children participating in sports as a required part of the school curriculum.
Yes, this is an example of meaningful participation, since the children are expressing themselves through play.
No, this is not an example of meaningful participation.
Which of the following are examples of meaningful participation?
4. Children participating in an international conference on human rights.
Yes, this is an example of meaningful participation, since the children are expressing themselves and being heard in an important forum that affects their rights.
No, this is not an example of meaningful participation
Which of the following are examples of meaningful participation?
Key elements of mainstreaming child participation include Participation rights context analysis
Child participation in programme implementation
Evaluation of participation
Mainstreaming in country programming
Evaluation Scope: What is being done?
Tool 3.2 provides a matrix for measuring the scope of children’s participation
Quality: How is it being done? Tool 3.3 provides a matrix containing details of the basic
requirements and benchmarks for measuring the quality of children’s participation.
Outcome: Why is it being done? Tool 3.4 provides matrices on possible outcome indicators.
Mainstreaming in country programming (continued)
Participation rights analysis
Component 1. Identify legal entitlements
Component 2. Identify key
stakeholders
Component 3. Identify mechanisms
to access information & raise
awareness
Component 4. Identify
opportunities for children to influence
agendas and participate in their
daily lives
A broad range of measures are needed to ensure that participation is embedded & institutionalized
Interventions to realize participation rights