Module 3: Child Participation

“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

Group Activity

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?

Counterarguments

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

Group Activity

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

Group Activity

A broad range of measures are needed to ensure that participation is embedded & institutionalized

Interventions to realize participation rights