Children and Young People Change Agents inSocial Transformation : Children and Young People Change Agents inSocial Transformation 14th May 2010 Ravi Karkara
Specialist, Child & Adolescent Participation
Gender, Rights and Civic Engagement Section,
Policy and Practice Group
UNICEF Headquarters
E-Mail : rkarkara@unicef.org
Children and Young People's Participation : Children and Young People's Participation The core purpose of children's participation is to empower them as individuals and members of civil society (i.e. as social actors). It gives them the opportunity to influence the actions and decisions that affect their lives. They can do this in a number of ways, whether as individuals or as organised groups:
Through speaking out / expressing - for example, to expose abuse, to make a complaint about services, to ask questions, to raise awareness of a problem or to press for a change in policy.
Through their involvement in decision-making - for example, in assessing needs, designing projects or programmes, sharing in school management, drawing up policy guidelines, developing legislation or evaluating services.
Through practical action - for example, through peer education, setting up a child-led organisation, carrying out research or preparing a children's radio programme.
Participation may be Categorized as : Participation may be Categorized as Consultative participation - where adults seek children’s views in order to build knowledge and understanding of their lives and experience E.g. Child Jirga’s Afghanistan, Youth Policy, Kazakhstan
Collaborative participation – where there is a greater degree of partnership between adults and children, with the opportunity for active engagement at any stage of a decision, initiative, project or service E.g. UN Study, Nepal + Follow up West Africa
Child-led participation - where children are afforded the space and opportunity to initiate activities and advocate for themselves E.g. Child Led Advocacy, India,
A CHILD RIGHTS ECOLOGYAcknowledges the extent to which children contribute to their social environment while simultaneously being affected and served by it (The International Institute for Child Rights and Development Canada) : A CHILD RIGHTS ECOLOGYAcknowledges the extent to which children contribute to their social environment while simultaneously being affected and served by it (The International Institute for Child Rights and Development Canada) Accountability & Child Centred Governance
Basic requirements for the implementation of the right of the child to be heard : Basic requirements for the implementation of the right of the child to be heard Transparent and informative
Voluntary
Respectful
Relevant
Child Friendly
Inclusive
Supported by training
Safe and sensitive to risk
Accountable
Defining “Participation”….contd. : Defining “Participation”….contd. In other words – for the child, it means :
Seeking information (child friendly and age appropriate)
Forming views
Expressing ideas
Taking part in activities and processes
Being informed and consulted in decision-making
Initiating ideas, processes, proposals and projects
Taking action – positive civic engagement
Analyzing situations and making choices
Respecting others and being treated with dignity
Forming groups, associations and acting together
Slide 7 : 7
Following are some tools children use in strengthening their participation : Following are some tools children use in strengthening their participation Traditional: Puppetry, street theater, drama, song, dance, rap, etc.
Media: Films, Radio, TV, News shows, video letters, Animation (e.g. Egypt), etc.
Newsprint: Newspaper, wall newspaper, leaflets, posters, stickers, etc.
Progressive Tech: SMS, Social Networking, Blogging, Discussion Boards, Pod cast, etc.
Creative: Art, photography, etc
Key Learning : Key Learning Increase recognition of role of children as change agents and social actors
Child participation integral to HRBA
Life cycle approach to child participation
Child friendly and diversity sensitive (age appropriate) information, methods and tools
Applying practice standards (participatory may not be meaningful participation)
Inclusion and respect for non-discrimination in child participation
Let children choose the tools and medium of their expression and their positive civic action themselves (traditional, media, art, internet, etc.)
Supporting Children’s organization, child led initiatives and networks
Key Developments : Key Developments Legal + Policy FRAMEWORK
Article 12 : Article 12 States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.
For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.
Cluster of Participation Rights - CRC : Cluster of Participation Rights - CRC Article 5 : “…evolving capacities of the child”
Article 12 (1) “…express views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child”
Article 13 (1) “…freedom of expression….freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds….”
Article 14 (1) “…respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion”
Article 15 : “…freedom of association. and peaceful assembly”
Article 17: “……right to information”
The Global Commitment to Promoting Child Participation : The Global Commitment to Promoting Child Participation Omnibus Resolution 2009 “…Child Right to be Heard”
Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child lays down the basic principle and purpose of meaningful and ethical participation of children and young people, and
Article 7 of CEDAW on woman’s rights…. to participate in the formulation of government policy …. to participate in non-governmental organizations and associations concerned with the public and political life
The Millennium Declaration in Article 25 reaffirms the commitment to work collectively for more inclusive political processes, allowing genuine participation of all citizens (and in this case, children and young people included) in all countries.
The World Fit for Children paragraph 32 (i) adopted at the UN General Assembly special Session on Children made a strong commitment towards increasing participation of children
To CelebrateGC Art 12 : CRC Committee : To CelebrateGC Art 12 : CRC Committee First-ever GC on one of the four general principles of the CRC : non-discrimination, best interests, right to life, right to be heard (Art 12) – child participation
Objectives: (a) support State Parties’ effective implementation of Art 12, (b) strengthening understanding of Art 12, (c ) elaborate scope of legislation, (d) policy and practice needed for implementation, (e) highlight positive approaches in implementing Art 12, (f) propose basic requirements for implementation of Art 12.
Main Sections of GC Art 12 include: Legal analysis of Art 12, Literal analysis of Art 12, Requirements for implementation, judicial and administrative proceedings, link to other participation articles in CRC, implementation in different settings (family, alternative care, health care, education and school, play, sports and cultural activities, workplace, situations of violence, prevention, immigration and asylum, emergencies, national and international settings), etc.
Some Challenges : Some Challenges Moving beyond “tokenistic and “one-off events” to a more sustained and integrated approach and practice in promoting participation
Developing capacity of Adults (duty bearers) on child participation
Working on child participation in family setting
Awareness-raising and building capacity of children (rights-holders) to claim their rights through their participation
Participation of discriminated groups like disable, indigenous, minority, etc.
Creating an enabling environment for promoting meaningful participation – family, school, local councils, national institutions
Creating knowledge with children
Policy advocacy at all and increased accountability toward s child particpation
Conceptual Confusions… : Conceptual Confusions… Children = 0 up to 18 years (CRC)
Adolescents = 10 to 19 years (WHO)
Youth = 15 to 24 years (UNGA-1995)
Young People = 10 to 24 years (UNGA-1995)
And, each country having its own definitions….