https://coglobal.es/citizensnow/
Under-18s represent a third of the world’s population yet, unlike adults, most have no direct say in the rules and laws that govern their lives.
From the urgent threat of climate change to social justice issues, children are demanding to have their say in a wide range of critical current events. And yet, their needs and interests are all too often ignored, despite governments’ children’s rights obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Including younger voices in governance is often characterised in terms of ‘youth participation’, a label that usually means older adolescents and young adults. This sidelines younger children, their voices and concerns largely absent.
Society needs to employ considerably greater imagination to ensure children can safely and meaningfully learn about and participate in democratic processes. Promisingly, a growing number of deliberative democratic processes at local, city, municipal, national, and transnational levels — including citizens’ assemblies, juries, panels and participatory budgeting initiatives — are involving children, and highlighting the intergenerational benefits of such an approach.This side-event aims to amplify the views and perspectives of children on democratic participation, and be an open space for participants, whether representing governments, institutions or civil society groups, to reflect on their responsibilities to realising children’s civil and political rights.
Children and Young People’s Participation
The event will feature the direct participation of children and adolescents from Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council’s Aktiba (tu) programme, bringing their voices into the conversation on democracy and open government.
Target audience
- Representatives of governments and public institutions.
- Civil society and international organizations.
- Professionals in the fields of democratic participation and children’s rights.
Facilitation:
Katie Reid
Adviser at Child Rights International Network (CRIN), focused on children’s rights, democracy and climate. Katie works with governments, institutions and organisations to better involve children in democratic processes. Katie has previously led local national and global child participation processes, including citizens’ assemblies with children in Scotland and Ireland, and global consultations for the development of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s General Comment No. 26 on children’s rights, the environment and climate. She is also part of the Youth Climate Justice project at University College Cork, researching children’s climate action and litigation.
Andrés Falck
Executive Director of Coglobal, an organization specialized in participatory methodologies and deliberative processes with children and young people. At Coglobal he has coordinated local and European projects that strengthen participatory democracy, promoting the direct involvement of children and adolescents in public life and decision-making.
