Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service (DoCCFS) Case Study
How a family support service listens to and acts on the views of children during their engagement in a family support programme.
![DoC](https://hubnanog.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Lit-Review-3.jpg)
Background information:
The Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service (DoCCFS) is a not-for-profit public service organisation. We provide a range of therapeutic supportive services to children and families based in the greater Dublin region. Our services include Family Centres, Pre Schools, Assessment Centres and a Gender, Sexual and Domestic Abuse Service. Our Family Centres offer a range of therapeutic supportive interventions to children up to the age of 18 years and their parents or carers. Our approach to working with families is needs led, strengths based, and solution focussed. Children who attend our services are referred by their parents, school, social workers and other agencies.
This case study is an account of how Family Workers employed by the Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service (Arklow Springboard) work with a group of eight children aged 6-11 years who are experiencing difficulties through the medium of pottery, which was selected by the children themselves. Family Workers engage in and facilitate sessions therapeutic with these children and are responsible for listening to and acting on the views of children.
How the children and young people were ensured SPACE, VOICE, AUDIENCE and INFLUENCE
Space: How we ensured a safe and inclusive space to hear the views of young people at Daughters of Charity ![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODdhAQABAPAAAMPDwwAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=)
Things we considered | What we did |
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How we make sure that children and young people feel safe to express their views |
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How we allow enough time to listen to and hear their views |
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How we make sure that all children or young people are heard |
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Voice: How we gave young people a voice in decisions![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODdhAQABAPAAAMPDwwAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=)
Things we considered | What we did |
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How we support children and young people to give their views and be heard |
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How they can raise things that matter to them |
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How we offer them different ways of giving their views |
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Audience: How we made sure that there was an audience (decision-makers) for young people’s views![pencil](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODdhAQABAPAAAMPDwwAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=)
Things we considered | What we did |
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How we show children and young people that we are ready and willing to listen to views |
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How we make sure that they understand what we can do with their views |
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Influence: How we made sure that young people’s views were taken seriously![pencil](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODdhAQABAPAAAMPDwwAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=)
Things we considered | What we did |
---|---|
How they know the level of influence they can have |
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How we give them feedback |
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How we share with them the impact of their views on decisions |
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IMPACT
What changes were made in the space or setting because of children/young people giving their views?
The programme is very flexible and responsive to the views and needs of the children. So, changes to the programme happened on a weekly basis. The views of children are taken on board to help our staff prepare the next session or programme.
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This research was commissioned in 2006 by the Ombudsman for Children as a baseline research study concerning children’s rights in Ireland.
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If theyre getting loaded, why cant I? A large-scale exploratory survey examining the behaviour and attitudes of young people in Ireland towards teen and parental alcohol use, and the effects of parental alcohol use on young peoples lives.
This National Children’s Consultation represents a rare and diverse attempt to study a large population of young people’s alcohol use, their attitudes to alcohol, and their individual experience of their parent/guardians alcohol use within an Irish context
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Children and young peoples experiences of participation in decision making at home, in school and in their communities.
The aim of this study is to explore the extent to which children and young people aged 7-17 and living in contemporary and rural Ireland, are able to participate and influence matters affecting their home, school and community.
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Dealing with Bullying in Schools: A Consultation with Children and Young People by the Ombudsman for Children Office
This report highlights the views and ideas of ten groups of children and young people consulted by the OCO between September and December 2011 about schools’ handling of bullying.
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All I have to say – Separated children in their own words
This publication was produced by the separated children project run by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office.
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Dublin: Your City/Our City. A guide compiled by separated children
This publication was produced by the separated children project run by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office. The project involved the participation of 35 separated children living in the Dublin area.
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The Story of the Ombudsman for Childrens Youth Advisory Panel: How we set up and work with YAP and what weve learned.
Resource booklet on how to set up a YAP in order to hear and learn from the views of children and young people.
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Young People’s Views about Opportunities, Barriers and Supports to Recreation and Leisure
This study was commissioned in the context of policy development in the field of young people’s recreation and leisure.
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Blueprint for the development of Children and Young Peoples Services Committees Draft for Feedback
This Report provides a blueprint for the development of CYPSC operationally and strategically within the broader context of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 – 2020.
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Children’s Research Digest: Children Should be Seen AND Heard
This article explores children’s rule-following behaviour, as part of an ongoing study underway in the Contextual Behavioural Science lab at UCD.
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Guidance for Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) on Participation by Children and Young People in Decision Making
This document’s purpose is to guide CYPSC to provide a series of practical steps in engaging children and young people in decision-making.
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Barnardos Glór na nÓg Monitoring and Evaluation Report Key Findings
The report provides details of the monitoring and evaluation of the Barnardos Glór na nÓg project.
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Creating Benefit for All – Young People, Engagement and Public Policy
Young people’s participation in the economic, political and cultural life of all Australians is fundamental both now and in the future.
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The Right of Children to Participate in Public Decision-Making Processes
The right of children to participate in decision‑making in all matters that affect their lives is a well‑established legal principle and international research.
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Student Councils: A Voice for Students
The Education Act, 1998 provides for the establishment of student councils, intending them to play an integral and important role in the school community.
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Student Councils That Work: Reviewing and Improving Student Voice in NI Schools
The aim of the article is to champion and celebrate School Councils in Northern Ireland and identify ways to support and enhance their work.
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Dilemmas and Contradictions in Hearing Children in Care Proceedings
The article is based on interviews with 22 children’s spokespersons in the Norwegian arrangement for indirect participation in care proceedings.
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‘Ask Us … This Is Our Country’: Designing Laws and Policies with Aboriginal Children and Young People
Aboriginal children and young people have much to say about governance, law and policy, particularly about matters that are likely to affect their lives.
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Engaging Young People as Partners for Change: The Community Project
This article sheds some much-needed light on how participation rights can be made “real” at a local level.
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Life Under Coronavirus: Children’s Views on their Experiences of their Human Rights
This article describes the process and findings of the ground-breaking CovidUnder19 survey which was co-designed with children, for children.
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Children’s Capacities and Role in Matters of Great Significance for Them
An Analysis of the Norwegian County Boards’ Decision-making in Cases about Adoption from Care
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Participatory Planning Pedagogy – A Children’s Right to the City Initiative
The program and its underlying Participatory Planning Pedagogy (PPP) and curriculum follow a student-led and rights-based approach that builds upon global Child Friendly Cities scholarship.
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On Barriers to Accessing Children’s Voices in School Based Research
There are significant challenges for researchers in accessing children’s voices about matters that pertain to them in school settings.
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Youth Courts and Childrens Rights: The Irish Experience
This article highlights the problems faced by the Court and explains why, in addition to the reforms above, it is vital that the Court be overhauled both to address its effectiveness as the central agency in the youth justice system.
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The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: A Study of Legal Implementation in 12 Countries.
A study on the legal and non-legal measures of implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 12 countries other than the UK.
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Law Reform Commission, Children and the Law: Medical Treatment (LRC 103-2011).
This Report forms part of the Commissions Third Programme of Law Reform and follows the publication in 2009 of a Consultation Paper on Children and the Law: Medical Treatment.
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Stereotyping of Young People – Resource Pack
This research highlighted a widespread stereotyping of young people in a range of arenas. The research concluded that the young people interviewed saw their institutional relationships with adults as for the most part unequal, troubled and rooted in stereotypical ideas about their attributes and abilities.
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Learning from their Lessons: A study of young people in residential care and their experiences of education.
A study of young people in residential care and their experiences of education
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United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. Irelands Second Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child: On the Implementation of the Convention as required under Article 44 of the Convention.
Ireland’s second periodic report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child as per the requirements under Article 44 of the Convention.
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Listening for Childrens Stories: Children as Partners in the Framework for Early Learning.
The NCCA designed a portraiture study to develop portraits of children’s experiences of early learning and development in a range of settings in Ireland.
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Hearing Young Voices: Consulting Children and Young People, including those experiencing Poverty or other forms of Social Exclusion, in relation to Public Policy Development in Ireland.
The aim of the research is the identification and evaluation of models of good practice for consulting children and young people experiencing poverty or other forms of social exclusion in relation to public policy developments affecting them.
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Developing the Arts in Ireland: Arts Council Strategic Overview 2011-2013
The Arts Council’s strategic approach has a dual focus on supporting artists and arts organisations and on seeking to increase public engagement and participation in the arts.
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Guidelines for taking and using the images of children and young people in the arts sector.
These guidelines have been compiled by the Arts Council in collaboration with the arts sector and the Health Service Executive (Information and Advice Persons).
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The Participation of Young People in the Arts in Ireland: A Proposed Policy and Action Plan for the Period of the Third Arts Plan
A proposed policy and action plan for the period of the third arts plan.
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Planning and Development (Amendment) Act, 2010, para 8.
An act to amend and extend the planning and development act 2000, to amend the transport (railway infrastructure) act 2001, and to provide for related matters.
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Education Act 1998
An act to make provision in the interests of the common good for the education of every person in the state.
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Engaging Children in Planning, Design, Development, Delivery and Evaluation of Services
This paper proposes how to give effect to the 2004 OMC “Young Voices: Guidelines on how to Involve Children and Young People in Your Work” recommendations.
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An Examination of Concepts of School Readiness among Parents and Educators in Ireland for the Irish Research Council and An Evaluation of Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Republic of Ireland for the National Council
An investigation behind the concepts, motivations and perceptions of parents and educators in relation to school readiness and school starting age.
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#ScotYouthandCOVID2 – Children and Young People’s Participation Through Crisis
The findings detailed here explore the experiences and ideas for change from children and young people precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Making Rights Real for Children: A Children’s Rights Audit of Irish Law
This report details the current legal protection that exists for children in Ireland as well as the gaps that remain in the recognition of their rights.
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Children’s Participation – The Perspectives of Educational Welfare Officers on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making, prior to the Implementation of the Programme for Prevention, Partnership and Family Support
Key findings and recommendations from a study on children and young people’s participation in planning meetings concerning their school attendance.
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Children’s Participation in Decision-making: Balancing Protection with Shared Decision-making Using a Situational Perspective
This article argues for a situational perspective of children’s participation to act in the child’s best interest.
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Children’s Participation in Decision Making From Child Welfare Workers’ Perspectives: A Systematic Review
This article explores child welfare workers’ experiences of children’s participation in decision-making in the child protection system
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Children’s Perspective on Their Right to Participate in Decision-making According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 12
The aim of this study was to describe and capture the meaning of children’s perspective on their right to participate in decision-making.
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Everyday Youth Participation? Contrasting Views from Australian Policymakers and Young People
There is a new awareness by policymakers of the effectiveness of integrating young people’s everyday perspectives into participation
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Having a voice — having a choice: National standards for children and young people’s participation
This leaflet outlines a set of agreed standards for the participation of children and young people participating in decision-making processes in Wales.
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Results Based Management and Children’s Participation: A Guide to Incorporating Child Participation Results into CIDA Programs
Guide developed to help CIDA staff and development partners to incorporate child participation results into CIDA programmes.
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The Global Study Independent Human Rights Institutions for Children 2010-2011
Global Study analysing the role of independent human rights institutions.
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The role and mandate of children’s ombudspersons in Europe: Safeguarding and promoting children’s rights and ensuring children’s views are taken seriously
Given the current trends of reducing the functions and mandates of Ombudspersons for Children institutions across Europe, ENOC carried out in 2010 a survey on the role and scope of competences of ENOC member institutions.
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Statement on Communication with Children
Statement by the European Network of Ombudpersons for Children urging States in Europe to implement Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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Integration and participation of young people at local and regional level Resolution 259 (2008)
Webpage containing links to resolutions by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe
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Children as economic and social actors in the development process, Working Papers of the Expert Group on Development Issues 1
This paper aims to explore present thinking and experience on childhood and children and in light of these insights identify the most constructive future directions for policy.
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The gap between rhetoric and reality: critical perspectives on children’s participation
This issue explores perspectives on participation from experiences in Africa and seeks to elucidate key insights and lessons and raise further questions for debate.
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Children as Social Actors
This special issue results from an international research symposium, held in 2006 to discuss papers addressing the theme of Children and Young People as Social Actors.
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Why dont we? Youth Participation Resource pack
“Why Don’t We?” is designed to be used in an informal environment by both young people and youth work practitioners. Many of the activities and reflective exercises are action based and require participation by all members of the group (both adults and young people).
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Children in alternative care: national surveys
Survey carried out by Eurochild on children in alternative care 2nd edition.
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Primary Voices – Equality, Diversity and Childhood in Irish Primary Schools
This publication examines key social justice issues related to the inclusion and recognition of difference in the primary school.
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The rights of children living in residential institutions’ Recommendation Rec(2005)5 (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 16 March 2005
The rights of children living in residential institutions’ Recommendation Rec(2005)5 (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 16 March 2005
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Children’s Participation in Family Law Proceedings Research
A research project to explore how children’s rights are respected in law across the different countries who are members of the ChildWatch International Research Group
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Childrens participation from tokenism to citizenship
A nation is democratic to the extent that its citizens are involved, particularly at the community level. The confidence and competence to be involved must be gradually acquired through practice.
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Children’s participation in family and social life’ Recommendation No. R (98) 8 (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 18 September 1998 at the 641st meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)
Reigional Policy
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Measures to protect children against harmful content and behaviour and to promote their active participation in the new information and communications environment’ Recommendation CM/Rec(2009)5 (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 8 July 2009
Website of the AYF
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Voice is not enough: conceptualising article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
This article provides a children’s rights critique of the concept of ‘pupil voice’. The analysis is founded on Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which gives children the right to have their views given due weight.
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Special Edition of The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science on the Child as a Citizen
This volume of the ANNALS considers conceptual, legal, and practical issues related to the realization of children as citizens. Using the CRC as a starting point on the path of achieving functional citizenship for children, the distinguished contributors.
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Promoting the participation of children in decisions that affect them, Recommendation 1864
Recommendation by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to Member States, encouraging them to promote participation by children in decisions affecting them.
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The role of independent human rights institutions, General Comment No. 2
General Comment published by the Committee on the Rights of the Child to encourage States parties to establish an independent human rights institution for the promotion and monitoring of implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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General Measures of Implementation, General Comment No. 5
This General Comment outlines the general measures States parties must take to secure the full and effective implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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Implementing Rights in Early Childhood, General Comment No. 7
This General Comment focuses on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the context of early childhood.
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Children and International Human Rights Law: The Right of the Child to be Heard
The book explores the historical and theoretical background to Article Twelve of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and examines the various models of participation which have been created to facilitate a better understanding of this provision.
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A Handbook of Children and Young People’s Participation: Perspectives from Theory and Practice
A Handbook of Children and Young People’s Participation brings together key thinkers and practitioners from diverse contexts across the globe to provide an authoritative overview of contemporary theory and practice around children’s participation.
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Children as citizens? International voices: Childwatch International Citizen Study Group
This book, published by Otago University Press, is an account of a Childwatch International collaborative international study about the meaning of citizenship to children – how they view their status and membership in society through notions of identity,
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Children’s Rights Behind Bars, Human Rights of Children deprived of Liberty: Improving Monitoring Mechanisms National Report: Ireland
The goal of the project is to increase the respect of human rights of children deprived of liberty.
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Picking Up the Pieces: The Rights and Needs of Families Affected by Imprisonment
In this report, IPRT highlights the rights and needs of children and families affected by imprisonment in Ireland.
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Meeting Together – Deciding Together: Kids Participating in Case Planning Decisions that Affect Their Lives
In 2002, a group of people got together to better understand and find ways that kids could be more involved in making decisions that affect them.
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Participation: Count me in!
This guide looks at a range of issues and practicalities that should be considered when undertaking a research project with children
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Participation: Checking the scoreboard. Coach’s handbook.
This handbook will help groups reflect and take stock of how effectively kids are being included in their work, activities and decision-making processes.
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Children and Clinical Research: Ethical Issues
Explores the challenges faced by researchers to undertake ethical research with children.
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Physical Places And Social Spaces For Young Children In Hospital
This report explore young children’s perspectives and use of physical and social spaces of the hospital environment.
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An examination of children and young people’s views on the impact of their participation in decision-making
This study explores the experiences of children and young people who have participated in participation initiatives held by the DCYA.
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It’s about me: Young people’s experiences of participating in their Care Reviews
The main aim of this research is to explore young people’s experiences of participating in their care reviews.
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Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on the General Comment on the Rights of Adolescents
Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on the General Comment on the Rights of Adolescents.
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Hear by right: Setting standards for active involvement of young people in democracy
Hear by right: Setting standards for active involvement of young people in democracy.
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Meaningful consent to participate in social research on the part of people under the age of eighteen
This article describes changes in conventions among social scientists undertaking research with children and young people over the last decade
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Children’s Understandings of Wellbeing
This research aims to contribute to the development of National Child Well-being Indicators, a key action under the National Children’s Strategy.
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A children’s right-based approach to involving children in decision-making
Children’s issues have become a greater priority on political agendas since the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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General Comment No. 14: (2013) on the right of the child to have his or her best interests taken as a primary consideration
Children’s issues have become a greater priority on political agendas since the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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The ethics of participatory research with children
This paper argues that ethical problems in research involving direct contact with children can be overcome by using a participatory approach.
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Consent – What you have a right to expect, a guide for children and young people
Guide for children and young people on giving consent.
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Children’s Rights and Research Processes: Assisting Children to Informed Views
The article reflects on a body of work with children as co-researchers and as participants.
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Children and Justice: Professionals’ Perspectives and Experiences
Video documenting the views and experiences of professionals working with and on behalf of children in the justice system.
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Children and Justice: Your Right to be Heard
Short clip for children on their right to be heard in the context of judicial proceedings.
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Podcast with Veronica Yates of the Children’s Rights Information Network
Veronica Yates talks to Children’s Rights Policy Officer about the new Third Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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Lessons from Juvenile Clients
This podcast discusses three critiques of legal representation brought forth by young people who are in the child-welfare system.
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Interviewing the Child Client: Approaches and Techniques for a Successful Interview
This training video provides practical guidance and demonstrations of techniques that can help lawyers work effectively with their child clients.
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General Comment No. 17 (2013) on the right of the child to rest, leisure and play
This general comment seeks to highlight the importance of rest, leisure and play for chidren’s well-being and development.
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General Comment No.16 (2013) on State obligations regarding the impact of the business sector on childrens rights
This General Comment considers the relationship between State obligations regarding children’s rights and the business sector.
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Towards 2016 – Ten-Year Framework Social Partnership Agreement, 2006-2015.
Towards 2016 develops a new framework to address key social challenges, which individuals in Ireland face at each stage of life, including a dedicated section on the needs of children.
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Ten Years On: Did the National Childrens Strategy deliver on its promises?
This review, undertaken by the Children’s Rights Alliance, in collaboration with our members, looks back at the ten years of the Strategy and assesses whether it has delivered on its objectives
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Developing Childrens Participation: Lessons from a Participatory IT Project
This article describes and analyses the process used by Barnardos in developing and implementing a participatory approach in a children’s IT project in Galway City, Ireland.
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Adolescent Friendly Quality Assessment Tools [AFQuATs]
The Adolescent Friendly Quality Assessment Tools [AFQuATs] are designed to provide a method for health service providers and planners to assess the quality of services for young people in relation to adolescent friendly quality standards.
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National Strategy for Service User Involvement in the Irish Health Service 2008-2013
This strategy will build on the existing work undertaken and documented on service user involvement in health. This strategy has been developed to ensure a systematic and consistent approach to service user involvement across the health and social services.
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Learning to listen: core principles for the involvement of children and young people
The government wants children and young people to have more opportunities to get involved in the design, provision and evaluation of policies and services that affect them or which they use. Actively involving children will produce better services.
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Supporting Interculturalism in Youth Work, Practical Guidelines for doing Intercultural Youth Work
This document responds to Frequently Asked Questions that NYCI receives on the inclusion of cultural and minority ethnic young people and leaders in youth work.
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I have rights, you have rights, he/she has rights … An introduction to childrens rights
A list of children’s rights governments must take to help children exercise set out in the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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Hear by right — standards framework for the participation of children and young people
This is a guide developed by the UK National Youth Agency to enable organisations working with children and young people to develop best practice on the safe, sound and sustainable participation of children and young people in the services and activities
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Charter on education for democratic citizenship and human rights education Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)7 (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 11 May 2010 at the 120th Session)
This recommendation makes reference to Member states fostering the role of non-governmental organisations and youth organisations in education for democratic citizenship and human rights education, to include the UNCRC, especially in non-formal education.
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Inclusive Education: “How Youth Can Make a Difference” and “How Children Can Make a Difference” DCIs International Campaign for Inclusive Education
Youth-friendly resources from DCI’s International Campaign for Inclusive Education.
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Understanding and evaluating childrens participation: A review of contemporary literature
This document is the product of a literature review, fieldwork in India, Kenya and Ecuador and discussion with various practitioners and academics working on children’s participation.
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Evaluating childrens participation: seeking areas of consensus
This article reviews some of the areas of consensus and debate during the symposium in Oslo on “Children’s Participation in Community Settings” and evaluates the complex question: how can participation be evaluated in ways that will encourage best practices.
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Ethical Approaches to Gathering Information from Children and Adolescents in International Settings: Guidelines and Resources
To improve the lives of children and adolescents it is necessary to find out about their circumstances, their needs, and the services they require to meet their needs.
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Researching Childrens Experience: Approaches and Methods
Researching Children’s Experience provides examples of how researchers from a variety of social science perspectives have set about carrying out research into children’s experience.
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Building Capacity for Ethical Research with Children and Young People
The Board of the Childwatch International Research Network approved the establishment of a new Thematic Study Group to undertake an international scoping project entitled Building Capacity for Ethical Research with Children and Young People.
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Valuing childrens potential: How childrens participation contributes to fighting poverty and social exclusion
The case studies presented in this book describe pioneering examples of where children are given a voice. This book is part of Eurochild’s contribution to the 2010 European Year
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The social reintegration of children living and/or working on the streets Resolution 271 (2008); The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Council of Europe The social reintegration of children living and/or working on the streets Recommendation
Regional policy detailing strategic approaches at all governance levels on the eradication of children living on the streets and the promotion of their rights.
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Integration of young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods Resolution 319
The transition of young people to adult life can be a very unequal process: while some benefit from new opportunities, others experience vulnerability and exclusion.
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Indigenous children and CRC General Comment No. 11
This General Comment pertains to the rights of indigenous children under the Convention, which specifically deals with Article 12 rights under paragraphs 37-39 of the General Comment.
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Report of consultations with young people concerning harmful internet communications including cyber bullying in the Law Reform Commission Report Harmful Communications and Digital Safety
The Report of the consultation with young people concerning on harmful internet communications including cyberbullying
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Have your say! Manual on the Revised European Charter on the Participation of young people in local and regional life
This charter is an instrument that young people can use to encourage local authorities to implement policies concerning them, as well as a tool for co-operation between young people, youth organisations, and local and regional authorities.
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Campasito – manual on human rights education for children
The affirmation of the right of children to participate is one of the guiding principles and most progressive innovations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
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Compass – a manual on human rights education with young people
The programme was created because human rights education (HRE) – meaning educational programmes and activities that focus on promoting equality in human dignity – was, and remains, of incalculable value in shaping a dimension of democratic citizenship for all young people and in promoting a culture of universal human rights.
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The Rights of Young People in Conflict with the Law
A youth-friendly list of internationally recognised rights applicable to young people worldwide.
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Youth at the Table: What skills do I need to be great at governance?
The resource booklet contains a series of help and advice around important skills that you may need to be involved in governance and decisionmaking.
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Advocacy Matters – helping children change their world An International Save the Children Alliance guide to advocacy: participants manual
This guide is for Save the Children staff and partners who are involved in advocacy. You can use it as a general advocacy resource.
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Participation Models Citizens, Youth Online A chase through the maze
This publication outlines and examines all the models of participation and empowerment from Arnstein’s ‘Ladder of Citizen Participation’
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Every child deserves a family
This report provides feedback to children who took part in the consultations for developing EveryChild’s conceptual framework.
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Child Advisory Boards
Groups of young people supported by Plan, who engage with school authorities, the media, national development organisations and the United Nations to advocate for child rights.
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Child Participation – how to involve children
The fifth meeting of the Forum provided the opportunity to discuss how to move forward on the EU strategy on the Rights of the Child.
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The right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel and degrading forms of punishment General Comment No 8
The Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international human rights instruments recognize the right of the child to respect for the child’s human dignity and physical integrity and equal protection under the law.
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Child-friendly justice – Perspectives and experiences of children involved in judicial proceedings as victims, witnesses or parties in nine EU Member States
The present report focuses on children who have been victims, witnesses or parties in judicial proceedings.
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Focus groups with young people: a participatory approach to research
Experiences of conducting focus groups with young people as part of a participatory approach to research design and participant recruitment.
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General Comment No. 15 (2013): The right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health
This general comment provides guidance and support to States parties and other duty-bearers to support them in respecting, protecting and fulfilling children’s right to enjoyment to the highest attainable standard of health.
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General Comment No.9 (2006): The rights of children with disabilities
This general comment provides guidance and assistance to States parties in their efforts to implement the rights of children with disabilities in a comprehensive manner which covers all provisions of the Convention.
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Childrens Voices in Housing Estate Regeneration
The goal of this research is to give a voice to children and young people in the context of housing estate regeneration.
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Participation Framework
The Framework focuses on children and young people’s individual and collective participation in decision-making.
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The Lundy Model
This model provides a pathway to help conceptualise Article 12 of the
UNCRC.
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The Child Poverty Act 2010: How local authorities can involve children and young people
This report aims to give local authorities a brief introduction to their duties under the Child Poverty Act, and in particular, provides further information on how to involve children and young people in work on poverty.
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Conditions for Change for Children and Young Peoples Participation in Evaluation: Change-Scape
Using cases from Nepal and UK, the ‘Changescape’ structures the conditions that determine whether evidence from children participating in evaluation is utilised by decision-makers to shape services and inform strategic processes.
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Childrens Geographies
Children’s Geographies is an international peer-reviewed journal that publishes leading edge research and scholarship engaging with and advancing geographical and spatial perspectives on children, young people and families.
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Children & Society
Children & Society is an international, interdisciplinary journal publishing high quality research and debate on all aspects of childhood and policies and services for children and young people.
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Moving Beyond Youth Voice
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Youth participation in Finland and in Germany: Status analysis and data based recommendations
This report is a comparative overview of youth participation in Germany and Finland. The project was launched in November 2007 as a bilateral cooperation initiative by the Finnish Ministry of Education and the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ).
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National Action Plan for Social Inclusion, 2007-2016
The Government is committed to a coherent strategy for social inclusion based on the lifecycle approach set out in the national partnership agreement towards 2016
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Independent Institutions Protecting Children’s Rights UNICEF Innocenti Digest No. 8
This issue of the UNICEF Innocenti Digest examines the role and functions of exisiting Ombudsmen and Commissioners for Children and their success in protecting and promoting children’s rights.
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Youth Work Act 2001
An act to extend the functions of vocational education committees in relation to youth work, to provide for the making of grants in respect of youth work, to provide for the appointment of an assessor of youth work and his or her functions under the act.
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Revised European Charter on the participation of the young people in local and regional life’ Recommendation 128
The revised Charter advocates adequate support and commitment to the implementation of youth participation policies and practices
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Teenspace – National Recreation Policy for Young People
The aims of the research were to determine what young Irish people do in their free time and what are the barriers and supports they experience and their aspirations with regard to recreation and leisure.
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Mid-Term Review and Phase Two Action Plan of the National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making, 2015-2020
A plan to strengthen the voice of children and young people in their local communities, in formal and informal education settings, in health and social services and in the national context of government decision-making.
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An Audit of Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making
The aim of this study was to document activity in statutory and non-statutory organisations that enables participation by children and young people (under the age of 18) in decision-making that affects their lives.
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Teenagers views on Solutions to Alcohol Misuse. Report on a National Consultation.
In 2007, the Minister for Children announced that his Office would consult with teenagers on alcohol misuse. The consultations were designed to explore how young people themselves view teenage drinking.
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The Agenda for Children’s Services: Reflective Questions for HSE Senior Managers
The aim of The Agenda is to assist policy-makers, managers and front-line practitioners to engage in reflective practice.
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Consultations with Children & Young People for the Family Justice Oversight Group (Youth-friendly Version)
The Family Justice Oversight group, formed by Helen McEntee Minister for Justice, is currently developing a plan for the family justice system for Ireland.
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So, How was School Today?
Comhairle na nÓg National Executive developed this survey in response to Comhairle members, who identified their top issue as the need for young people to have a stronger say on what happens in the classroom.
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Bhuel, Conas A Bhí an Scoil Inniu?
Comhairle na nÓg National Executive developed this survey in response to Comhairle members, who identified their top issue as the need for young people to have a stronger say on what happens in the classroom.
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What We Think – UNCRC, UPR, & UNCRPD Consultation with Children & Young People Gaeilge
Chuaigh an Roinn Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige (DCEDIY) i gcomhairle le leanaí agus daoine óga chun a gcuid tuairimí maidir le cearta leanaí in Éirinn a chloisteáil.
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Consultation with Young People on Cancer Prevention Behaviours
The HSE National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) in conjunction with the DCEDIY and the National Participation Office undertook a consultation with young people on skin cancer prevention behaviours in 2021.
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Child and youth participation in Finland: A Council of Europe policy review
Review of child participation in Finland based on the Framework for the policy review process of the Council of Europe policy review on child and youth participation 2010-2011
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Children’s Right to be Heard in Global Climate Change Negotiations
This report presents the case for children’s participation in climate change negotiations and makes recommendations for their involvement.
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Children’s Participation in Decision-making
The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) promotes the rights and welfare of children and young people under 18 years of age living in Ireland.
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’Education and social inclusion of children and young people with autism spectrum disorders’ Recommendation CM/Rec(2009)9 (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 21 October 2009
This recommendation is aimed at member states adopting legislation and policies to provide enabling structures to mitigate the effects of autism spectrum disorder and to facilitate the social integration, & improve the living conditions.
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Facing the crisis supporting children through positive care options
This paper explores a range of options to better support the care and protection of children at risk of separation from their families or needing substitute care. It aims to move beyond the critique of residential care provided in A Last Resort.
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International Journal of Childrens Rights
The articles in the preeminent International Journal of Children’s Rights reflect the perspectives of a broad range of disciplines and contribute to a greater understanding of children
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Results of an International Survey regarding Children’s Participation in Decision-Making Following Parental Separation
The survey explored how children’s participation rights are respected in post-separation decision-making in international family law contexts, including a focus on the legislative mechanisms and on the factors that facilitated, or hindered, children’s parents.
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Childhood Journal
Childhood is a major international peer reviewed journal and a forum for research relating to children in global society.
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Ten Tips For Legal Professionals: Meaningful Child Participation In Family Justice Processes
This guide provides 10 tips to help legal professionals involve children in family justice processes so that they and their families are better served.
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Forum for Young People in Care
This report presents the findings of a Forum for Young People in Care established by the Irish Association of Young People in Care (now EPIC) and HSE Dublin North.
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The right to be properly researched: research with children in a messy, real world
Editorial from a Special Issue of Children’s Geographies on developing rights-based methodolgies.
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ChildLinks Children’s Participation Issue 2 2021
This issue of ChildLinks looks at children’s participation in decision-making and contains articles from DCEDIY and Hub na nÓg.
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Healthy Lifestyles – Have your say. A report of consultations with children and young people
A report of the results of a national consultation of children and young people conducted by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Health to help inform the development of the new national strategy to combat obesity.
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Is the honeymoon over? Children and young people’s participation in public decision-making
Children and young people’s participation in public decision-making is now firmly on international and national agendas. This article concludes the special issue on such participation, by discussing three central issues for children.
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Face to Face: Children and Young People’s Right to Participate in Public Decision-making
The studies discussed here suggest that face-to-face engagement between rights-holders and duty-bearers holds a distinctive place among participative methods.
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Child-led research: From participating in research to leading it
This document brings together the current thinking and practice on human rights based approaches in the education sector. It presents key issues and challenges in rights-based approaches and provides a framework for policy and programme development.
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From rhetoric to practice: Bridging the gap between what we believe and what we do
This paper discusses the practical reasons for the disjuncture between the rhetoric and the practice of promoting children’s participation, including participation being a means to an end versus an end itself.
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Guidelines for Research with Children and Young People
These guidelines are aimed at assisting researchers who are thinking about involving children and young people in their work. The guidelines provide practical advice to the researcher on how to involve children and young people through all stages.
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Youth as Researchers Training Manual
The manual provides a step-by-step guide for young people carrying out a research project and the accompanying workbook is designed to complement the training by suggesting practical tasks to support the research process.
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Participation of Children and Young People: Our Approach
TUSLA have come up with an approach to participation to make sure that children’s views are taken into account in decisions that affect them.
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Concluding Observations: Ireland, CRC/CO/2, 29 September 2006.
The Committee considered the second periodic report of Ireland (CRC/C/IRL/2) at its 1182nd and 1184th meetings (see CRC/C/SR1182 and 1184), held on 20 September 2006, and adopted at its 1199th meeting, held on 29 September 2006 its concluding observations
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Annexes – Child-friendly justice -Perspectives and experiences of children involved in judicial proceedings as victims, witnesses or parties in nine EU Member States
This report presents the findings of the second phase of FRA’s fieldwork research on child-friendly justice.
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Ombudsman for Children Annual Report 2017
The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) promotes the rights and welfare of children and young people under 18 years of age living in Ireland.
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Participation of youth in decision‐making procedures during residential care: A narrative review
This narrative literature review focuses on the opportunities of young people to participate, the challenges and facilitators to participation, and the outcomes of care related to participation.
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Child and Youth Participation Toolkit – Tusla
This toolkit has been developed through a collaborative process involving a number of Tusla staff and managers, key stakeholders, community voluntary groups, and young people.
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Does organized sport participation during youth predict healthy habits in adulthood? A 28 year longitudinal study
This study aimed to investigate the association between participation in organized youth sport and adult healthy lifestyle habits.
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In defence of tokenism? Implementing childrens right to participate in collective decision-making
This article revisits the concept and practice of tokenism in collective child participation, querying whether it is accurate to describe it as ‘non-participation’ and assessing the extent to which it may offer a useful and sometimes necessary step on the journey to more respectful and meaningful engagement with children.
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The Voice of the Child in Child Protection: Whose Voice?
This paper draws upon research undertaken in Scotland but the findings of the study are relevant across the UK and beyond.
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The Voice of the Child in Social Work Assessments: Age-Appropriate Communication with Children
This article describes a child-centred method for engaging with children involved in the child protection and welfare system.
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Consulting with children with disabilities as service-users : practical and methodological considerations
This project was undertaken in response to a request from the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) to undertake a review which would assist the Social Services Inspectorate to prepare for the inspection of children’s residential centres for children.
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‘A school for children with rights’ UNICEF Innocenti Lecture
This lecture examines the significance of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child for modern education policy. Articles 28 and 29 of the Convention, which aims pertain to education rights, are analysed against the four guiding principles.
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Conceptualizing the role of adults within youth-adult partnerships: An example from practice
This paper conceptualizes the specific roles that adults provide and the complex interactions between youth and adults that emerge within youth participation efforts.
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‘Aims of education’ General Comment No. 1
Compliance with the values recognized in article 29 (1) of the UNCRC, which sets down the aims of education, clearly requires that schools be child-friendly in the fullest sense of the term and that they be consistent in all respects.
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‘Children’s Participation in the Decision-Making Process During Hospitalisation: an observational study’
Twenty-four children (aged 5 months to 18 years) who were admitted to a university hospital were observed for a total of 135 hours with the aim of describing their degree of participation in decisions concerning their own care.
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The Adolescent Perspective on Participation in Treatment Decision Making: A Pilot Study
The purpose of this study was to determine whether 3 adolescents diagnosed with cancer within the previous 3 to 6 months and between 13 and 15 years of age were capable of providing data directly regarding decision making.
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‘Children’s participation in consultations and decision-making at health service level: A review of the literature’
This paper critiques the research literature from between 1993 and 2007 on children’s, parents and healthcare professionals’ experiences of children’s participation in consultations and decision-making within the Irish healthcare setting.
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‘Participation and health – a research review of child participation in planning and decision-making’
The purpose of this study is to review the research evidence for effects, positive or negative, of participation on health outcomes for children in care. A scoping review of major health and social work research databases was undertaken.
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Adolescent friendly health services: an agenda for change
This report documents effective ways to promote young people’s meaningful participation in receiving health care services and/or basic information as a person in their own right and in a non-judgemental manner within a global context.
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Its Our Brexit Too: Childrens Rights, Childrens Voices
This is a report on the views, hopes and fears of young people, North and South, and is the outcome of a unique cross-border conference
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‘Adolescent health and development in the context of the CRC’ General Comment No. 4
This General Comment outlines the right of young people to express views freely and have them duly taken into account (art. 12) which is fundamental in realising adolescents’ right to health and development.
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Learning to listen: consulting children and young people with disabilities
This report is based on a consultation with disabled children and young people in London in 2000. It focuses on the methods and processes of carrying out such a consultation-consent issues, how to structure consultation sessions and tools used.
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“Take My Hand” Young Peoples Experiences of Mental Health Services
“Take My Hand” report highlights young people’s experiences of, and perspectives on mental health services.
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The participation of children and young people in care: insights from an analysis of national inspection reports in the Republic of Ireland
This paper outlines findings in relation to participation standards in HIQA foster care, residential care and special care inspection reports over a two-year period from 2013 to 2015.
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Promoting the rights of children with disabilities Inoocenti Digest No. 13
The Innocenti Digest on Promoting the Rights of children with disabilities.
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Deinstitutionalisation and community living of children with disabilities
This recommendation aims to promote the deinstitutionalisation of children with disabilities and their life in the community.
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Voice of the child – raising the volume of the voices of children and young people in care
A special edition of Child Care in Practice on “Raising the Voice of Children and Young People in Care”
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Supporting Childrens Participation in Decision Making: A Systematic Literature Review Exploring the Effectiveness of Participatory Processes
This article explores how effective processes are in supporting children’s participation in decisions concerning their personal welfare, protection and care.
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Development and testing of an assessment of youth/young adult voice in agency-level advising and decision making
This paper describes the development and validation of the Youth/Young Adult Voice at the Agency Level (Y-VAL), an assessment of the extent to which agencies have implemented best practices for supporting meaningful participation.
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Justifying children and young peoples involvement in social research: Assessing Harm and Benefit.
When children and young people’s involvement in research is increasingly the norm, this article reflects on the importance of a well-reasoned and transparent justification for their inclusion or exclusion
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Listen to them! The challenge of capturing the true voice of young people within early intervention and prevention models; a youth work perspective
Exploring the challenges to youth work in capturing the voices of young people in a meaningful way within Meitheal and the Child and Family Support Networks model.
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Children’s Rights Budgeting and Social Accountability: Children’s Views on its Purposes, Processes and Their Participation
The article identifies some of the barriers to including children in decision making on public spending.
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Children’s Views on Children’s Rights: A Systematic Literature Review
This systematic literature review aimed to investigate children’s views of children’s rights, at a broad level.
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Youth First: A Canadian Youth-led Initiative in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Youth First focused on creating safe and interactive spaces in cyberspace for young people during the pandemic.
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“The pandemic is galvanizing change”: Shifting to a critical and decolonial approach to human rights education with youth
COVID-19 reveals the vital role of human rights education (HRE) in combatting racial discrimination and safeguarding youth civil rights.
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Study of Perception of Parents and Their Children About Day-to-day Outdoor Play Spaces
The quantitative study and analysis highlights different aspects like play and mobility range, open space visitation, activities of children.
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A Qualitative Study of Child Participation in Decision-making: Exploring Rights-based Approaches in Pediatric Occupational Therapy
This qualitative study described the decision-making experiences of children, parents and therapists in occupational therapy.
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Seeing lockdown through the eyes of children from around the world: Reflecting on a children’s artwork project
This summary report presents key messages that young people have identified as key experiences and priority concerns during the pandemic since November 2020.
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Growing-up Under Covid-19: Key Messages from the Second Cycle of Participatory Action Research
This report presents messages that young people have identified as key experiences and priority concerns during the pandemic.
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Research Series Issue 45: Rural Youth Inclusion, Empowerment, and Participation
This study focuses on participation in decision-making processes and how rural youth could benefit from its findings in development projects
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National Child Participation Strategy: Building a Caring Society. Together.
This document provides a common framework to guide government and civil society to promote the meaningful participation of children in South Africa.
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‘I Want to Share This Video With You Today.’ Children’s Participation Rights in Childhood Research
This paper discusses ethical and methodological considerations of children’s rights-based epistemology.
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Promoting the Participation of Seldom Heard Young People: A Review of the Literature on Best Practice Principles
Reviewing the national and international literature on the participation of seldom heard young people and to identify best practice principles in the field.
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‘Seeing Voices’ – Voice of the Child Project 2021
The Voice of the Child project was initiated by The Genesis Programme under Louth LEADER Partnership’s ABC Programme and funded by CYPSC.
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Working with young people: A national study of youth work provision and policy in contemporary Ireland
This study provides a context to the provision and policy of Irish youth work. It identified that over 43,000 young people participated in youth work groups across Ireland.
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The Irish National Children’s Strategy: Lessons for promoting the social inclusion of children and young people
This article describes the origins, development and contents of the Irish National Children’s Strategy, noting the links to the wider imperative of social inclusion.
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Children and Young Peoples Participation in the Community in Ireland: Experiences and Issues
This is an executive summary of a regional technical workshop for Save the Children and partners in Bangkok on 5-6 March 2009 on involving children and young people in violence prevention and protection.
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Space, Voice, Audience and Influence: The Lundy Model of Participation (2007) in Child Welfare Practice
The purpose of this article is to share examples of how practitioners working in Ireland’s child protection and welfare services implement these concepts in practice
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Perils of perspective: Identifying adult confidence in the childs capacity, autonomy, power and agency (CAPA) in readiness for voice-inclusive practice
In recent years, children’s voice initiatives in education have gained increased recognition and application. However, while the concept of child and student ‘voice’ is not new, there remains a high level of inconsistency in how voice-focused initiatives are implemented across education sectors.
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‘Will you listen? Young voices from conflict zones’ Machel study 10-year strategic review: children and conflict in a changing world
UNICEF was a co-convenor of this 10th-anniversary strategic review of the issues raised in the landmark 1996 Machel study on the impacts of conflict on children, which aims to serve as an advocacy and policy tool on children and armed conflict.
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Embedding a childrens rights perspective in policy and decision-making
An overview of the extent to which children’s rights are promoted and taken into account in policies and practice.
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The impact of children and young peoples participation on policy making
A report commissioned by the Scottish Government to explore the impact children and young people’s participation has had on policy-making in Scotland.
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Youth Participation Good Practices in Different Forms of Regional and Local Democracy
Youth in Europe are politically engaged and having their say at the local level in many fields of democracy
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“I want my experiences to make a difference” promoting participation in policy-making and service development by young people who have experienced violence
This paper explores participation, by young people who have experienced violence, in policy and practice developments.
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Childrens participation in national policymaking: “Youre so adorable, adorable, adorable! Im speechless; so much fun!”
This study portrays patterns of children’s participation in public policymaking and characterize various adults’ reactions to children’s participation.
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Reimagining Migration Responses – Learning from Children and Young People Who Move in the Horn of Africa
Based on interviews with migrant children this report helps address the evidence gap on children and young people migrating in the Horn of Africa.
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Supporting Languages: The Socio-educational Integration of Migrant and Refugee Children and Young People
This article draws on data from IMMERSE which uses participatory and co-creation methodologies with children, parents, educators and policy-makers.
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Including Children’s Voices in a Multiple Stakeholder Study on a Community-wide Approach to Improving Quality in Early Years Setting
The main objective of the intervention programme is to measurably improve the lives of children (pre-birth to six years) and families.
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Circle-time, Selfies, Friends, and Food: Researching Children’s Voices in Early Years Settings in the Young Knocknaheeny ABC Programme
Researching Children’s Voices in Early Years Settings in the Young Knocknaheeny ABC Programme.
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European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, Volume 30, Issue 1 (2022)
Special issue on the theme of eliciting the voice of children from birth to seven.
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Teenage Mental Health: What helps and what hurts? Report on the Outcome of Consultations with Teenagers on Mental Health.
This report discusses the developing policies and services that meet the needs of young people through engaging directly with them.
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Voices of Young People. Young Peoples Views on Reform of the Junior Cycle.
A consultation with young people on the reform of the Junior Cycle took place in November 2010.
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Listen to Our Voices, Hearing Children and Young People Living in the Care of the State
This report publishes the findings of conducting a consultation process with children in the care of the State.
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Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020
Better Outcomes Brighter Futures is the first overarching national children’s policy framework for children and young people aged 0-24.
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National Strategy on Children and Young Peoples Participation in Decision-Making 2015-2020
This report documents a whole-of-government strategy, with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs having responsibility for policy leadership & support.
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‘Article 19: the right of the child to freedom from all forms of violence’ General Comment No. 13
When appropriate, juvenile or family specialised courts and criminal procedures should be established for child victims of violence. This could include the establishment of specialized units within the police, the judiciary and the prosecutor’s office.
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‘Treatment of unaccompanied and separated children outside their country of origin’ General Comment No. 6
Article 12 of the Convention allows for a well-informed expression of views and wishes of unaccompanied minors, as it is imperative that such children are provided with all relevant information concerning, for example, their entitlements, services available.
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‘Evaluating Children’s Participation in SEN Procedures: Lessons for educational psychologists’
This paper reports the findings from a study of the participation of children with special educational needs (SEN) in decision-making about their needs in a sample of mainstream schools which were self-selected for having promising practices.
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Listening to children about justice: report of the Council of Europe consultation with children on child-friendly justice
This report has two main aims: first, it presents the views of children gathered during the Council of Europe’s consultation exercise on child-friendly justice. Second, it reports on the consultation process itself and reflects on what lessons can be learned.
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Guidance for Developing Ethical Research Projects Involving Children
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Children and young people in care Discover your rights!
This publication aims to promote knowledge on the care system in a child-friendly manner, including a child’s rights as a young person in care and how to effectively communicate with professionals in order to empower the child.
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Supporting childrens rights through education, the arts, and media (SCREAM): Education Pack
The education pack, which forms the basis of the SCREAM programme, is made up of 14 educational modules and a User’s Guide.
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Violence against children in conflict with the law: A study on indicators and data collection in Belgium, England and Wales, France and the NetherlandsViolence against children in conflict with the law: A study on indicators and data collection in Belgium, England and Wales, France and the Netherlands
Children deprived of their liberty and placed in detention are at extreme risk of violence
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The private sector as a service provider Day of General Discussion (2002)
The Committee discussed the theme “The private sector as service provider and its role in implementing Child Rights”.
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Minimum standards for consulting with children
The Minimum Standards on Consulting with Children were developed to facilitate and support the participation of children in formal consultations
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Childrens participation in decision-making: why do it, when to do it, how to do it
This booklet shows how to put children’s participation into practice. It is for everyone in roles of public leadership and service, answering questions about how and when children’s participation is needed.
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So you want to consult with children? A toolkit of good practice
This toolkit of good practice has been designed to offer advice, ideas and guidance for involving children in consultations.
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Participation – Spice it Up! Practical tools for engaging children and young people in planning and consultations
The Book “Participation – Spice It Up!” is packed full of practical tools and ideas for engaging children and young people.
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Promoting childrens meaningful and ethical participation in the UN global study on violence against children: a short guide for members of the NGO advisory panel and others
This is a study of how children and young people face violence all over the world and what can be done to stop it.
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Safe you and safe me – violence is NOT ok: a Save the Children contribution to the United Nations Secretary-Generals study on violence against children
A child-friendly art-therapy workbook designed to help children to learn about the types of violence faced by children throughout the world and give them.
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Policy and Literature Review of Goal 1 of the National Children’s Strategy, 2000-2010
This strategy recognises that children have an innate dignity as human beings; enrich the quality of all our lives; are especially vulnerable; thrive through the love and support of a family life; should be supported to explore, enjoy and develop their varied talents; and need help to learn responsibility as they grow towards adulthood and full citizenship.
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A Report on the Involvement of Children and Young People in the Recruitment of the Ombudsman for Children
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Report on Consultations with Young People Engaged in Garda Youth Diversion Projects
This report details the findings of consultations with young people on Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs).
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Toolkit for the Development of a Childrens Services Committees, 2nd Edition
This is a summary of the initiative to develop and implement a planning model for national and local interagency working to improve outcomes for children.
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United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (“The Beijing Rules”)
Child participation is enshrined in these guidelines in the context of children who come into conflict with the law, e.g. the right to be notified of the charges; the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses etc. which is afforded by basic procedural
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First Annual Report on the implementation of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex (LGBTI+) National Youth Strategy 2018–2020
The actions initiated in the first year of implementation have focused on the lives of LGBTI+ young people across a range of sectors.
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Report of the Taskforce on Active Citizenship
In this Report, we set out our vision of what it means to be an active citizen – and how individuals might be supported and encouraged to be active citizens. This is a big task – and we don’t pretend to have all the answers.
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Children’s rights in juvenile justice’ General Comment No. 10
This General Comment, like all, must be read in conjunction with Article 12, one of the four guiding principles of the Convention, which enshrines the child’s right to be heard.
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Child/Youth Evaluation Form for Individuals
This form enables individual children and young people to evaluate meetings and other engagements with adult decision-makers.
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Child/Youth Evaluation Form for Groups Meeting Face-to-Face
This form enables children and young people to evaluate face-to-face meetings or consultations.
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Child/Youth Evaluation Forms for Groups Meeting Online
This form enables children and young people to evaluate online meetings, consultations, surveys and other activities.
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Evaluation Checklist
A tool for self-evaluation and external evaluation to be used by departments, agencies and organisations.
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Everyday Spaces Checklist
Gives guidance to adults on listening to children and young people and giving them a voice in decision-making in everyday spaces.
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Planning Checklist
Gives guidance to departments, agencies and organisations on listening to children and young people.
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Life as a Child and Young Person in Ireland – Report of a National Consultation
This report, Life as a Child and Young Person in Ireland: Report of a National Consultation, documents the views of 66,705 children and young people.
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Children’s Human Rights to ‘Participation’ and ‘Protection’: Rethinking the Relationship Using Barnahus as a Case Example
The relationship between children’s human rights to protection and to what is commonly referred to as ‘participation’ has received significant attention
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Child Friendly Communication at Events
The aim should be to create an atmosphere in which children feel comfortable, respected and valued, and that they belong.
Author: Dr Michelle Templeton and Prof Laura Lundy
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Creating child-friendly versions of written documents
If it’s friendly for the adults, it should be friendly for the kids. And if it’s friendly for the kids,it will also be more friendly for the adults.
Author: Professor Laura Lundy
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Tusla Child and Youth Participation Toolkit
The Tusla Child and Youth Participation Toolkit is a ‘quick reference’ document to support skilled practice.
Author: Dr. Celia Keenaghan and Dr. Sue Redmond
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Sharing the Stage
This is a toolkit for organisations who want children and young people’s participation to move from rhetoric to reality.
Author: NSW Commission for Children and Young People
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First 5 Report on the National Consultation with Young Children
Children aged 3–5 years are at an incredibly important stage of their life. Within the last decade they have been increasingly prioritised within Irish policy
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How We See It: Report of a Survey on Young People’s Body Image
During 2010, the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) conducted a consultation process with children living in the care of the State.
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Report of a Consultation With Young People on Reform of the Junior Cycle
A consultation with young people on the reform of the Junior Cycle took place in November 2010.
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Life Skills Matter – Not Just Points
Life skills matter – not just points is an important milestone in children and young people having a voice on issues that affect their lives.
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Seldom Heard Toolkit
A manual for practitioners on how to include ‘seldom-heard’ children and
young people in organisations and events.
Author: Olivia McEvoy
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Comhairle na nÓg Toolkit (2nd Edition)
The Toolkit has been developed to support the work of those who organise and run the 31 Comhairlí na nÓg throughout the country.
Author: DCEDIY (formerly DCYA)
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How’s Your Head
In the summer of 2020, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, working with the Department of Health and the youth sector, collaborated with SpunOut.ie
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What We Think | UNCRC, UPR, and UNCRPD Consultation 2021 with Children and Young People
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) undertook a series of consultations with children and young people to secure their views on the implementation of children’s rights in Ireland.
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Comhairle na nÓg Showcase 2014: Making Our Voices Heard
A national event took place in Croke Park, Dublin on the 20th November 2014. With 500 young people and Youth workers from around Ireland (members of Comhairle na nÓg), the Taoiseach, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
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Creat Náisiúnta maidir le Rannpháirtíocht Leanaí agus Daoine Óga i gCinnteoireacht
Díríonn an Creat ar rannpháirtíocht aonair agus chomhchoiteann leanaí agus daoine óga sa chinnteoireacht.
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Samhail Lundy
Soláthraíonn an tsamhail seo conair chun cuidiú le coincheapú a dhéanamh ar Airteagal 12 de Chonradh na Gaeilge.
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Seicliosta Pleanála
Tugann sé treoir do ranna, gníomhaireachtaí agus eagraíochtaí maidir le héisteacht le leanaí agus le daoine óga.
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Seicliosta Spásanna Laethúla
Tugann sé treoir maidir le héisteacht le leanaí agus le daoine óga agus le guth a thabhairt dóibh i gcinnteoireacht i spásanna laethúla.
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Seicliosta Meastóireacta
Uirlis le haghaidh féinmheastóireachta agus meastóireachta seachtraí le húsáid ag ranna, gníomhaireachtaí agus eagraíochtaí.
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Foirmí Aiseolais Leaní agus Daoine Óga (do Dhaoine Aonair)
Cuireann an fhoirm seo ar chumas leanaí aonair agus daoine óga measúnú a dhéanamh ar chruinnithe le cinnteoirí fásta.
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Foirmí Aiseolais Leaní agus Daoine Óga (Cruinniu Aghaidh ar Aghaidh)
Cuireann an fhoirm seo ar chumas leanaí agus daoine óga cruinnithe nó comhairliúcháin duine le duine a mheas.
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Foirmí Aiseolais Leaní agus Daoine Óga (do Ghrúpaí Ar Líne)
Uirlis le haghaidh féinmheastóireachta agus meastóireachta seachtraí le húsáid ag ranna, gníomhaireachtaí agus eagraíochtaí.
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Report of Consultations With Children on After-school Care
There has been an increasing focus on developing policy in the area of after-school care in Ireland in the past two years.
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Report of Consultations With Young People Concerning Harmful Internet Communications Including Cyber Bullying
This Report forms part of the Commission’s Fourth Programme of Law Reform. It arises against the reality that we live in a truly interconnected digital and online world.
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Voice of the Infant Best Practice Guidelines and Infant Pledge
The Voice of the Infant Best Practice Guidelines and Infant Pledge have been coproduced by a short-life working group.
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Headphones, Odd Shoes & A Second Chance at Life
EPIC invited the participation of children and young people with disabilities who are, or have been in care, with whom they work. The study was structured to ensure appropriate levels of support and accountability, and to allow the meaningful participation of the children and young people.
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Guide for Children and Young People to the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027)
Protecting the rights of the child is at the core of the Council of Europe’s mission to safeguard human rights, uphold democracy and preserve the rule of law.
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LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018-2020: Consultations Report
This Report represents a big step forward towards delivering the world’s first Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex+ (LGBTI+) National Youth Strategy
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“This is my life, and I don’t want to waste a year of it”- The Experiences and Wellbeing of Children Fleeing Ukraine
Since the escalation of conflict in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, more than 1,000 children have been killed or injured in the country.
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Report on Consultation With Children and Young People on Adoption Regulations
This report details the findings of consultations with children and young people to inform the drafting of adoption regulations that will set out how the Adoption Authority of Ireland or Court will hear the views of the child in his or her adoption order hearings.
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Hear our Voices!
These instructions will ensure children’s views are listened to and considered in every aspect of The Ark and beyond!
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Children’s Participation in Practice: Comparing the Views of Managers and Practitioners in an Early Intervention and Prevention Programme
Participation is the active involvement of children and young people in decision-making regarding issues that affect their lives
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Children’s Voice in Pre-School Project
At Creative Kids & Co., the most important aspect of our work is children’s participation in decision-making in their own learning.
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Youth Voice in School Leavers Programme
The topic was identified by two youth workers, based on interactions with young people facing the transition from second-level education.
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Youth Voice in a Climate Justice Plan
In October 2019, Foróige’s Reference Panel identified climate justice as an issue affecting all of society and young people in particular.
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Youth Involvement in a LGBTI+ Youth Strategy
Young people’s involvement in implementing the world’s first LGBTI+ youth strategy.
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Youth Voice on Living in Special Care
Young people’s involvement in improving the experience of living in Ballydowd Special Care Unit.
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A Child’s Experience of Being Listened to by a Vet
How the vet ensured that the child was given Space, Voice, Audience and Influence.
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Youth Voice in a Halloween Programme
Young people’s involvement in the development of a Halloween Programme in Lava Javas Youth Café, Limerick City.
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A Parent’s Story
A parent’s story about the impact on children of having their voices heard.
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Students Voice on a New Uniform
Students’ involvement in deciding on a new uniform in Salerno Secondary School, Co. Galway.
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How’s Your Head – Young Voices during COVID-19
Children and Youth Affairs, working with the Department of Health and the youth sector, collaborated with SpunOut.ie to undertake an online survey of young people’s experiences of COVID-19
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Convention on the Rights of the Child (Child Friendly Version)
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is an important agreement by countries who have promised to protect children’s rights.
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Report of DCYA Consultations with Children and Young People Living in Direct Provision
The Direct Provision system is the means through which the State provides accommodation, food and personal expenses to asylum seekers while their applications for asylum status are being processed.
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National Sexual Health Strategy (with the Department of Health)
This National Sexual Health Strategy is Ireland’s first national framework for sexual health and wellbeing.
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Our Heritage, Your Say: Report on the Consultation with Young People on the Future of Heritage in Ireland
As the Heritage Council formulated its strategic plan for the period 2018-2022, consideration was given to key questions
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National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making
Children and young people have a right to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
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A Study of the Experience of Pupils with Special Education Needs at Post Primary School
This research report on the experiences of young students with special educational needs (SEN), and their parents, of the move from primary to
post primary school.
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Consultations with Young People on Skin Cancer Prevention Behaviours
Just under 13,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually in Ireland. This is twice the number compared to 10 years ago and is projected to more than double again by 2045
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Report on Consultations with Young People Engaged in Garda Youth Diversion Projects
This report details the findings of consultations with young people on Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs). The key objectives of the consultations were to explore young people’s views and opinions on how
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Setting up an Advisory Group for Consultations on the Review of the GYDP
The Advisory Group met five times over the six-month timeframe of the consultation process.
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Report on Consultations with Young People Engaged in Garda Youth Diversion Projects
GYDPs are community based, multi-agency, youth crime prevention initiatives.
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Report on Consultations With Children and Young People on Cruinniú na nÓg
This report details the outcomes of consultations with children and young people on Cruinniú na nÓg, a new national day of creativity for children and young people, an initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
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Children Seen and Heard 1916-2016
The Citizen Participation Unit of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA), recognised as a leading authority on the practice of participation,1 partnered with Ireland 2016 and the Department of Arts
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So, How Was School Today? Report of a Survey on How Young People are Taught and How They Learn
Comhairle na nÓg National Executive developed this survey in response to Comhairle members, who identified their top issue as the need for young people to have a stronger say on what happens in the classroom.
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Healthy Lifestyle (Department of Health)
This consultation was one of two consultations with children and young people from all around Ireland on the theme ‘Healthy lifestyles: Have your say’
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Comhairle na nÓg Toolkit (Second Edition)
The Comhairle na nÓg Toolkit has been developed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) Citizen Participation Unit to support the work of those who organise and run the 31 Comhairlí na nÓg throughout the country
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Report on a Consultation with Children and Young People on Education for Sustainable Development
A key recommendation from the National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (2014-2020) states that pupils and students should be consulted on the issue of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in order to inform future policy (Department of Education and Skills, 2014).
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Healthy Lifestyles – Have your Say ‘A Consultation with Children and Young People
This report outlines the views of children and young people on factors that help and hinder them in having a healthy lifestyle.
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The Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study
This report presents data from HBSC Ireland 2014, the Irish Health Behaviour in School- aged Children survey.
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Consultation on Digital Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Strategy for Schools (with the Department of Education and Skills)
The Digital Strategy for Schools provides a rationale and a Government action plan for integrating ICT into teaching, learning and assessment practices in schools over the next five years.
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Consultation on the person specification for the Ombudsman for Children
This Report forms part of the Commission’s Fourth Programme of Law Reform. It arises against the reality that we live in a truly interconnected digital and online world.
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GAA Youth Consultation Day
The GAA’s National Youth Committee has been given responsibility for an overall programme for Youth Consultation – named #GAAyouth – as the GAA seeks the views of children and young people on the issues that matter to them.
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Sense of Place in Children’s Residential Care Homes
The DCYA Citizen Participation Unit and Barnardos formed a partnership in July 2013 to develop a practical guide to support organisations to enable the participation of seldom-heard children and young people.
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Comhairle na nÓg Showcase 2014: Making Our Voices Heard
A national event took place in Croke Park, Dublin on the 20th November 2014. With 500 young people and Youth workers from around Ireland (members of Comhairle na nÓg), the Taoiseach, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
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TACTIC – Teenagers and Children Talking in Care
This Report forms part of the Commission’s Fourth Programme of Law Reform. It arises against the reality that we live in a truly interconnected digital and online world.
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Structured Dialogue – Trio Presidency: Ireland-Lithuania-Greece
This report tells you what the Department of Children and Youth Affairs found out in consultations (interviews, meetings, workshops, surveys and events) about how young people who are out of education, work and training can be better included in society.
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Listen to Our Voices – Report of Consultations With Children and Young People Living in the Care of the State
During 2010, the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) conducted a consultation process with children living in the care of the State.