Child Participation / Youth Participation
at the NGO Committee on UNICEF

The NGO Committee on UNICEF supports child participation and youth participation, particularly in developing policies, plans, programs, and long-term goals for children and youth. It is important that youth have a voice in the plans being made for them, and for their future.

Surprisingly, not everyone is supportive of independent child and youth participation, for example:

The participation of children became quite controversial during the run-up to the Special Session. Some so-called 'pro-family' groups appear to view the participation of children as a threat to the family. A few Islamic governments also seemed to agree with these groups. They said that the participation of children undermines the authority of parents and erodes 'family values.'

Nothing could be further from the truth: the challenge of child development is all about participation. Poverty, as we now know, is a product of discrimination - of being denied access to essential resources. Children are among the first casualties of poverty because they have no access. They have no access because they have no voice. 'Participation' can prevent harm... and even save lives.

This is particularly true when one considers the challenge that faces adolescents, particularly girls. They are recruited to fight in wars, and get trafficked into the sex trade. They work in stone quarries and carpet factories. Orphaned at an early age, they are forced to support aging grandparents and younger siblings. Violence against girls is one of the reasons for the spread of the AIDS pandemic in Africa.

In other words, these young victims are forced to participate - but on the terms of adults, and in the worst possible way. It is hypocrisy to deny them the chance to participate on their own terms. Not only is this in the best interest of children - in the age of AIDS, it saves lives.

Everyone recognized the UN Special Session and the Preparatory Committee meetings offered children a chance to participate, but it was not easy. At the second Prep Comm, NGOs offered children the chance to participate by helping them create a caucus. But that created tensions among the children, and left bad feelings.

Participation was more successful at the second Prep Comm. Together, UNICEF and the NGOs made it possible for the under-18s to have their own space and conduct their own discussions, without imposing an adult agenda. This seemed to be the right balance.

Everywhere one could see signs of participation by children. On the Record for Children (OTR) ran a story about a delegation of students that wanted the Outcome draft amended to provide better support for disabled and disadvantaged parents. These college delegates were worried that governments might be tempted to take children away from parents with such difficulties. It would be hard to find a better example of family-friendly participation by children.

The three-day Children's Forum, which preceded the Special Session, offered children a unique opportunity to debate the issues on their own terms and in their own time. OTR, the NGO Committee newsletter, was also strongly committed to child and youth participation. In fact, the newsletter used articles from the many young journalists who attended the meetings.