Tag: Participation

Amplifying marginalised voices: a rapid evidence review of participatory methods engaging justice-involved youth

This research explores participative approaches for amplifying the voices of justice- involved youth, a marginalised group in criminological research. Using the SPIDER framework, this rapid evidence review examines engagement methods, such as photovoice and lyric writing. The findings show these techniques empower youth and promote self- expression but are constrained by the dominance of risk- focused approaches that prioritise adult- led decision- making. This raises critical questions about the compatibility of participatory methods with justice systems focused on risk management. The study highlights the need for more inclusive approaches that navigate systemic constraints while embedding meaningful youth participation in justice reform.

Read Full Article

Guidance for Developing Ethical Research Projects Involving Children and Young Adults

The findings from this consultation process and evidence review have been fundamental in shaping the ethical guidance that follows. This guidance is therefore grounded not only in established core principles but also in the lived experiences and voices of children and young people themselves. It goes beyond simply outlining core ethical principles; instead, it proposes a reflective and ethically nuanced framework for consulting with children and young people, including those whose voices are seldom heard. This guidance aims to support researchers in approaching their work with greater ethical sensitivity, reflexivity, and commitment to genuine, inclusive engagement. This guidance should be read in conjunction with the accompanying evidence review, which provides the detailed research and policy context underpinning these recommendations. Together, these documents offer a robust foundation for advancing ethically sound, inclusive, and rights-based research practice involving children and young people.

Read Full Article

Children’s Participation in Decision-making: A Systematic Review of Concepts, Barriers, Enabling Factors, and Policy Implications

Children’s participation in decision-making is seen as a key right and vital for inclusive development, as they make up nearly one-third of Indonesia’s population. While there are laws and initiatives to promote child participation, it mostly remains symbolic and not practiced effectively. A study analyzed 1112 articles from academic sources, with 79 articles selected for in-depth examination. The results show that true participation means viewing children as active citizens rather than just recipients of adult decisions. This approach not only respects children’s rights but also leads to better public policies. Despite the positive potential of child participation, several challenges exist. Many adults doubt children’s ability to contribute meaningfully, creating power imbalances and reducing participation to mere tokens. Participatory platforms often fail to include marginalized children or those with disabilities, and a lack of awareness about rights and opportunities hinders effective engagement. On the other hand, helpful factors include strong legal frameworks, training for children and adults, and inclusive approaches that incorporate children’s views into governance. When carried out properly, child participation empowers children and leads to more effective policies. However, many children are still unaware of their rights and have low participation rates. Addressing these issues is urgent and requires focused efforts to break down barriers, improve engagement skills, and ensure children’s perspectives are integrated throughout the policy-making process. Meaningful child participation is essential for building a fair and inclusive society. Urgent actions are needed to make this a reality.

Read Full Article

Core Principles for Meaningful Youth Participation in Intergovernmental Processes and Across the Work of the UN

Youth participation must be the rule, not the exception. Around the world, young people are organizing, innovating, and leading. They are not waiting for permission — they are shaping the future. Institutions must keep up.

The 2023 Policy Brief on Meaningful Youth Engagement called for a decisive shift: from symbolic inclusion to genuine partnership. Member States answered that call through the Pact for the Future.

The Core Principles for Meaningful Youth Participation take the next step — turning commitment into practice and toward shared decision making that reflects young people in all their diversity.

These Core Principles are grounded in human rights and demand action: removing barriers, protecting civic space, and investing in youth leadership.

Let us make meaningful youth participation standard in the inter-governmental processes of the United Nations and everywhere — restoring trust, renewing democracy, and building a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world for all.

Read Full Article

EU Children’s Participation Platform Findings from the consultation with children on the review of the progress made in the implementation of the European Child Guarantee

This fourth consultation of the EU Children’s Participation Platform focused on reviewing the progress made in the implementation of the European Child Guarantee (ECG). Children taking part in the EU Children’s Participation Platform activities in 2023 and 2024 asked that the Platform focus on child poverty. The consultation provides insights from children and teenagers on how to strengthen access to education, healthcare, housing services and healthy food, and how to support inclusion. The consultation results help the EU to better understand what works in the provision of and access to these key services, the challenges and barriers that children face, and show what changes and actions are needed at both EU and national level to improve access to services and provision to better support children.

Read Full Article

Recommendations from children and young people with disabilities for enhanced participation in local communities

Participation of children and young people with disabilities is often restricted and needs to be higher on the agenda of relevant municipal service providers. With a sociology of childhood perspective and based on thematic analysis of two focus group discussions and one individual interview with children and young people with various (dis)abilities, we present and discuss their recommendations for achieving increased participation in activities and services within their local communities in two norwegian municipalities. the findings are presented as six themes concerning service development participation, local activities, staff interaction, language and respect, community meeting places for youth with functional variations and inclusive built environments. Our findings should be of immediate concern for service providers, healthcare staff, policymakers and others who are responsible for services and policies aiming at increasing children’s participation in their daily life environments.

Read Full Article

Photovoice Reimagined: A Guide to Supporting the Participation of Students With Intellectual Disabilities in Research

Article 12 of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (1989) sets out the right for all children to be heard and for their opinions to be given due weight. However, the voices of children with disabilities often remain silenced as their perspectives are rarely consulted. This paper describes how a visual, participatory research method called Photovoice was used to elicit the voices of students with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) in mainstream post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland. Thirteen students with ID in four schools across Ireland participated by taking photographs of aspects of their school life that were meaningful to them. Photographs focused on places, spaces, objects and examples of learning, including their role in decision making. This paper details the stages of the Photovoice method which was adapted to support students to participate in the research process. It provides guidance on how to address the ethical and methodological concerns which arise when researching with children. It outlines a two-step approach to analysis, where participating students interpreted and created meaning which was further developed by the Principal Investigator. Employing Photovoice repositions students in this study as co-researchers and co-creators of meaning. Its use operationalises Lundy’s Model of Participation (2007) by providing space, voice, audience and influence which are necessary for children to express their views and have their voices heard in an ethical and inclusive manner.

Read Full Article

Lundy Model Resources

The “Lundy model” has been adopted by numerous national governments and public bodies as well as international organisations including the World Health Organisation, European Commission, Council of Europe, UNICEF, World Vision. Its key proponent has been the Irish Government, first in the National Strategy on Child and Youth Participation and from 2021 in its National Framework on Child and Youth Participation. Working through its national centre for excellence, Hub Na nOG, Laura worked with it to develop a series of tools based on the Lundy Model that are widely used in Ireland and have been translated, adapted and adopted globally.

Read Full Article