Children's Participation

The participation rights of children lie at the core of Plan's child centred community development approach. They include the right of the child to form or join groups, to express their concerns and be heard in decision making processes, to advocate for their rights, and to take action on issues of concern to them.

The 'participation articles' (12, 13 & 15) in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) include the rights of children:

• to receive and impart information

• to form associations

• to express themselves

• to be involved in decision making.
  
  

Children participating in their communities

Plan is committed to promoting and realising child rights in 66 countries around the world: fundamental to this is the challenge of realising children’s rights to participation. In most of our program countries children (anyone under 18 years) constitute approximately 50% of the population. It is clear that any development activity that does not give this proportion of the population a voice in what happens is unlikely to fulfil all its objectives.

Yet including children’s voices has to be more than just striving for a more efficient and effective outcome. It is a child's right to "express their views on matters affecting them and to have those views taken seriously" (Art 12 UNCRC). It is also acceptance of the notion that children are as competent as adults in making decisions about issues that affect their lives. For this reason, Plan's work in building the capacity of children to advocate for their own participation rights to decision makers and community leaders is central to our vision of a world fit for children.

Children's participation rights provide a common 'call to action' to children in communities throughout the world - from Darebin to Dhaka. By raising their voices, youth radio journalists, hip hop artists, student representative councillors, youth parliament delegates, online community members, young film makers, are practising their 'right to participate' in their communities.

Australian youth participating in the global community

Whether from 'developing' or 'developed' nations, the voice of youth is often marginalised and ignored. Plan Australia is committed to giving children and young people in Australia the opportunity to participate actively in Plan’s work.

In 2005, we commenced the Global Connections program which provides young people in Australia, and communities in which Plan works overseas, with the space and opportunity to communicate and learn directly from each other. Through connecting youth voices globally, and supporting youth in these communications, Plan aims to build the capacity of young people worldwide to be advocates for issues that concern them. We also aim to build the capacity of adults to listen to and engage with children and young people, whilst reversing the 'charity mentality' for children in program countries, who become educators and advisors and communicators to Australian youth.