Child participation in local governance. A Unicef Guidance Note

Child participation has been widely acknowledged as one of the most important dimensions of children’s rights for the last 30 years. While ‘participation’ can refer to many different aspects of a child’s engagement with the world around her/him, participation in the context of governance is often considered in relation to article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 12 recognizes a child’s right to be heard or express views freely, to have her/his views considered seriously in decision-making and to have a government ensure the realization of these rights.