When children take the lead: 10 child participation approaches to tackle violence

The right to participate came into being just as the Internet was being born – a vast phenomenon that would give the first generation of children to have specific rights an unprecedented opportunity to exercise them. Together, the UNCRC and the Internet have changed childhood.

At the same time, governments and organizations the world over have embraced the need for child participation to guide and shape programmes and policies and help prevent or report different forms of violence. The question is: are governments and organizations keeping up with the pace of change? Are today’s participation models adapting to the constant evolution of child participation?

This report draws on 10 case studies to examine child participation experiences related to different forms of violence, spanning initiatives driven by governments, international organizations and civil society. It zooms in on children’s roles, the methods used, the balance between offline and online, and how each initiative has achieved its impact. It identifies common elements that make child participation effective for violence prevention, reporting and awareness, offering concrete recommendations for children’s rights-based organizations.

This analysis of 10 child participation approaches aims to support child rights practitioners in their efforts to promote effective child participation. The ultimate goal is to unleash the positive power of millions of children who want to safeguard their right to a world free from violence.

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