Transcript Council of Europe objectives and plans on child and youth participation Stockholm strategy and roadmap Carolyne Willow.

Council of Europe
objectives and plans on child and
youth participation
Stockholm strategy and roadmap
Carolyne Willow
“The Stockholm Strategy is a strategic instrument for a
more child-friendly Europe. By making a concentrated
European effort, I am convinced that we can create a
better, friendlier and safer Europe for all our children.”
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General
of the Council of Europe
“Creating and supporting secure conditions for children
to grow up in is one of the most important things a
politician can do … Children's conditions and rights are
one of the major issues for the future of Europe.”
Göran Hägglund, Minister for Health and Social
Affairs, Sweden
Since the adoption of the Convention in 1989,
considerable progress has been achieved at the
local, national, regional and global levels in the
development of legislation, policies and
methodologies to promote the implementation of
article 12… However, the Committee notes that,
in most societies around the world,
implementation of the child’s right to express her
or his view on the wide range of issues that affect
her or him, and to have those views duly taken
into account, continues to be impeded by many
long-standing practices and attitudes, as well as
political and economic barriers…The Committee
also remains concerned about the quality of many
of the practices that do exist. There is a need for
a better understanding of what article 12 entails
and how to fully implement it for every child.
Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs
Committee of UN General Assembly (“Third
Committee”)
Children’s rights resolution, adopted
unanimously 20 November 2009
Promotion and protection of the rights of children
… encourages States to ensure the institutionalization
of children’s participation and encourage the active
consultation of children and the consideration of their
views in all matters affecting them, in accordance with
their age and maturity and evolving capacities.
Address all the root causes impeding children from
exercising their right to be heard and to be consulted on
matters affecting them.
Stockholm strategy
Adopted November 2008
• Implementation of international standards
• Mainstreaming of children’s rights
The aim is to ensure to all children an adequate standard of
living, social protection, the highest attainable standard of
health, education, protection from maltreatment, abuse and
exploitation as well as the right to be heard and to be
involved in decision-making.
Stockholm strategy
5 strategic objectives
1.
Mainstreaming and co-ordination
2.
Promotion of children’s access to justice
3.
Eradication of all forms of violence against children
4.
Participation of children and their influence in society
5.
Special focus on particularly vulnerable children
Stockholm strategy
Objective 4: Participation of children and their influence in society
a.
Children’s access to information and human rights education
b.
Co-operation between children’s rights programme and youth
sector
c.
Awareness raising and information exchange (public decisionmaking; decision-making affecting individual children; positive
parenting and family policies)
d.
Possibly updating Council of Ministers recommendations
e.
Policy reviews in volunteer countries
Roadmap 2009-11
1.
2.
3.
4.
Policy
Good practice
Education, training and child-friendly information
E-participation forum
Roadmap 2009-11: Policy
Snapshot from roundtable questionnaire
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Embedded in constitution
Embedded in civil codes
Prioritised in national overarching policy relating to children
and young people
Designated civil servants (national government)
Required through sectoral laws
Required through national standards
Central to work of Ombudsperson for Children
Political engagement with and funding for child and young
people-led organisations, including Children’s Parliaments
Democratic structures and decision-making within schools
Included in statutory inspections
Roadmap 2009-11:Good practice
European Drug Prevention Prize
Roadmap 2009-11:Good practice
1.
What is good practice in children’s participation? Do children and
young people and adults have similar aspirations?
2.
What good practice inspired you most recently; what impact did it
have on your decision-making or other actions?
3.
Which aspects of good practice in other countries do you want to
hear about? How do you want to hear about it?
4.
Who or what already collects and disseminates examples of good
practice in your country? How are children and young people
engaged in this?
Roadmap 2009-11:Education, training and child friendly
information
SOS Children’s Villages International
Roadmap 2009-11:Education, training and child friendly
Information
1.
Information and materials that exist already in your country - who
produced them; how were children and young people engaged;
are they included in the school curriculum; what impact have they
had?
2.
Starting afresh, what are the most important messages to
communicate to children and young people?
3.
How has your country engaged the media (including children’s
media) in human rights awareness raising?
4.
Who else is - or should be engaged - in this work, for example
Ombudspeople and Children’s Commissioners, children’s authors,
celebrities, the business sector?
Roadmap 2009-11:E-participation forum
European Network of National Observatories on Childhood
Roadmap 2009-11:E-participation forum
1.
2.
3.
What other e-participation forums exist - international, regional,
national or local
Watch out for: lessons from other networks and / or reservations
Initial thoughts on membership and terms of reference
Respect for children’s rights cannot be
perceived as an option, as a question of
favour or kindness to children, or as an
expression of charity. Children’s rights
generate obligations and responsibilities that
must be honoured. They need to be
perceived as an expression of solidarity and
partnership,empowering children to
participate actively in the improvement of
their situation and in the broader process of
social change.
Marta Santos Pais, 1999 (appointed Special Representative
on Violence Against Children in May 2009)
Instead of talking about
what you are going to do,
DO IT!
Young person, taken from Northern Ireland
consultation on the implementation of the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of
the Child (2007)