Children's Rights & Participation
The Children's Rights and Participation Improvement Group are a multi-agency group of practitioners working together to further the incorporation of the UNCRC across our organisations
The 'having your voice heard' page on the website is a place to have a look at what is happening locally, and nationally that children and young people can get involved in, or seek support from to have their voices heard.
Over the coming months, with the launch of the participation strategy, this page will begin to grow and more local opportunities will be added.
All of the pages on the website are relevant to children and young people, but this page focuses specifically on the places that you can go to, or connect with to share your thoughts and opinions on issues that matter to you, and affect your lives. The What's Happening? Page has a link to give feedback on the Participation Strategy and to sign up to a mailing list to be kept in the loop. Check it out if you want to be kept informed that way.
What is the UNCRC?
This short video has been made by I Am Me Scotland. 6 year old Sebastian talks to us about children's rights.
This Scottish Government animation was created in partnership with children and young people and follows four young people on a ‘children’s rights journey’ through their community, interacting with representatives from various public authorities to learn about the practical ways that public authorities can respect children’s rights.
What do we mean by Participation?
The website of Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People (CYPCS) has some really useful information about Participation and Children's Rights.
Within the UNCRC, Participation is one of the General Principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 12, in particular, states that every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. Other Articles within the convention (or rights) that relate to participation are:
Article 13: Freedom of expression.
Article 14: Freedom of thought, belief and religion.
Article 15: Freedom of association (the right to meet with other children and join groups and organisations).
Article 17: Access to information from the media (the right to reliable information from a variety of sources in a way that children can understand).
In Highland, we are working hard to ensure that meaningful participation is at the heart of all decisions that are made which impact upon children and young people. Our Participation Strategy seeks to support practitioners to do this, and uses the Lundy Model of Participation.
The infographic below shows what children and young people in Highland wanted from a Participation Strategy, and how we hope to address this by using the Lundy Model.
Highland Key Themes x Lundy Model.pdf