‘Ask Us … This Is Our Country’: Designing Laws and Policies with Aboriginal Children and Young People
Recorded in 2019
Contributors
Author: Holly Doel-Mackaway
Publisher: The International Journal of Children’s Rights
Date: 2019
Geographic Coverage: Worldwide
Type of Resource: Academic
Sector/setting: Academic
Vulnerable groups: Children, Young People
Developed with children and young people? Not specified
Type of participation: Report
Availability: Restricted Access
Keywords: Aboriginal Children and Young People, Australia, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Governance, Law, Policy
Introduction
If asked, and asked in the appropriate circumstances, Aboriginal children and young people have much to say about governance, law and policy – particularly about matters that are likely to affect their lives. Findings from field research conducted in the Northern Territory of Australia reveal a group of Aboriginal children and young people’s views about why and how they could be involved in designing legislative provisions such as the Australian Government’s “Northern Territory Emergency Response” and Stronger Futures legislation – commonly referred to as the Intervention.These findings support the conclusion that in order to create culturally appropriate, durable and relevant laws and policies, governments must first seek, then incorporate, Aboriginal children and young people’s views when designing measures likely to affect their lives – and do so in a manner that is consistent with article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (crc).