Child and youth participation resource guide
Basics of child and youth participation
Frameworks for mainstreaming
Council for the Welfare of Children and UNICEF, The National Framework for Children’s Participation: A guide in promoting and upholding children’s participation in the Philippines, Manila, Philippines, 2005.
This is an introduction for policy makers and programme managers for strengthening work with children in diverse situations. The framework was drawn from the experiences of children and young people and includes a list of indicators for implementing and monitoring progress for children’s participation.
Email: cwc@cwc.gov.ph, manila@unicef.org
Cutler, David and Alice Taylor, Expanding and Sustaining Involvement: A snapshot of participation infrastructure for young people living in England, Carnegie Young People Initiative and the Department for Education and Skills, UK, 2003.
This report looks at the existing research on organizational participation infrastructure (both public and private institutions) in the UK. Infrastructure is defined as the systems and procedures, structures and resources that an organization uses to involve young people in public decision making. The document analyses the essential frameworks that need to be in place within organizations for good practice on children’s participation.
Government of Ireland, The National Children’s Strategy, Our children – their lives, The Stationary Office, Dublin, Ireland, 2000.
The National Children’s Strategy is an innovative social policy initiative to advance Ireland’s implementation of the CRC. Based on six principles, this forms the basis for all future work on meeting the needs of children and their families. The framework highlights the three national goals: children will have a voice, children’s lives will be better understood and children will benefit from quality services, supports and new structural arrangements to ensure implementation.
Kirby, Perpetua, Claire Lanyon, Kathleen Cronin and Ruth Sinclair, Building a Culture of Participation: Involving children and young people in policy, service planning, delivery and evaluation, Handbook. Department for Education and Skills, ISBN 0-9546695-1-7, Nottingham, UK, 2003.
This handbook draws on the findings of a research study that explored the experiences of 29 organizations in seeking to listen to young people and to take action on what they said. It moves beyond the acceptance of children’s involvement in organizations and looks at how commitments can be translated into practice by bringing about changes to actively involve children and young people in services and policy making.
Kirby, Perpetua, Claire Lanyon, Kathleen Cronin and Ruth Sinclair, Building a Culture of Participation: Involving children and young people in policy, service planning, delivery and evaluation, Research Report, Department for Education and Skills, ISBN 0-9546695-0-9, Nottingham, UK, 2003.
This report examines the practice and outcomes of children’s participation in 29 organizations. Because most of the organizations did not formally document the outcomes of children’s participation, the researchers relied on the perceptions of those involved.
Krauskopf Dina and Ginet Vargas, Building Participation with Adolescents: Conceptual systematisation and strategic guidelines, UNICEF TACRO, Panama City, 2003.
Building on the results of the Regional Workshop on Experiences in Adolescent Participation, this document provides the strategic plan for UNICEF’s work with adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean. It discusses the concept of participation for this age group and examines existing structural risks and opportunities. It proposes recommendations on developing the individual capabilities of adolescents and on finding appropriate ways for adolescents to contribute and participate in the family, school, community and society.
Email: tacro@unicef.org
Lansdown, Gerison, Programming Strategy with and for Adolescents in East Asia and the Pacific, UNICEF EAPRO, Bangkok, 2004.
Adolescent participation is a cross-cutting issue that cannot be restricted to any one programme area. This document emphasizes the need to take a holistic approach towards building adolescent participation across all of UNICEF’s work and affirms the cross-sector approach in dealing with other UN agencies and partners.
Email: eapro@unicef.org
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Three Billion Reasons: Norway’s development strategy for children and young people in the South, Oslo, 2005.
This strategy paper upholds the CRC principles by adopting a holistic approach to children and young people’s development. It focuses on creating opportunities for active participation of children and young people in claiming their rights to health, education and protection. It also includes a checklist for monitoring compliance and progress in implementing this strategy.
O’Kane, Claire, ‘Mainstreaming Child Participation in Programming’ Children and Young People as Citizens: Partners for social change, Book 2, Learning from Experience, Save the Children Alliance, South and Central Asia Region, Kathmandu, 2004, pp. 22-65. (Also available in PDF)
This chapter emphasizes that children’s participation is a cross-cutting issue. It needs to be integrated in all stages and areas of work with children. The chapter provides recommendations for organizations moving towards a vision of children’s participation.
Rajani, Rakesh, The Participation Rights of Adolescents: A strategic approach, UNICEF, New York, 2001.
This is a resource for policy makers, programmers, advocates and activists interested in promoting the meaningful participation of young people at the global, country and community levels. The author argues that a development approach that emphasizes investing in young people’s assets and protective factors is more effective than focusing only on fixing young people’s problems.
Theis, Joachim, Child and Adolescent Participation Strategy, East Asia and Pacific Region, UNICEF EAPRO, Bangkok, 2005.
This strategy paper aims to promote the participation of children and adolescents in the East Asia and Pacific region. It provides a comprehensive analysis of children’s participation and proposes a systematic approach to promoting children’s participation rights to information, expression, decision making and association.
Email: eapro@unicef.org
UNICEF, Adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean: Policy Guidelines, Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, UNICEF TACRO, Bogota, 2001.
This policy document presents proposals and guidelines for developing policies and programmes for adolescents based on the principles of the CRC. It recognizes the particular needs of adolescents and includes sections on education, health, families and communities.
UNICEF, ‘Guidance note on promoting participation of children and young people’, Programme Policy and Procedures Manual, Section 13, UNICEF, New York, 2005.
This guidance note reflects UNICEF’s transition to an approach to programme cooperation for children and women based on human rights principles. Section 13 provides a guide on promoting the participation of children and young people.
Available for download: www.intranet.unicef.org (only accessible by UNICEF staff)
World Bank, Children and Youth: A framework for action, Section on Participation and Partnership, World Bank, Washington, D.C., 2005.
This document outlines the World Bank’s programming framework for children and youth. It includes references to and guidance for promoting the participation and citizenship of children and young people.
