This guideline is published in the framework of the project “Children Keeping Children Safe”, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and implemented by Save the Children in cooperation with Ombudsperson’s Office and State Agency for the Protection of Children’s Rights.
Participation is among the fundamental principles envisaged by the Convention on the Rights of the Child under Article 12, clearly setting forth that children enjoy the right to participate in decisionmaking processes affecting their life. As such, child participation enriches democratic processes and guarantees the upbringing and molding of future conscious generations actively involved in the lives of their communities.
The aim of this publication is to encourage and facilitate children and youth’s participation in consultation and decision-making processes at all levels. It is based on the UN Convention basic criteria, as well as on the General Comment No. 12 on Meaningful Child Participation and provides guidance to adults in promoting and realizing children’s right to participation and children’s overall rights, as part of child activities, projects, programs, policies, or services, by introducing them with the main participation principles along with a measurement indicators menu for each. The list of questions presented at the end of the document serves as a process progress checklist.