The document discusses children's rights to participation according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The UNCRC recognizes the right of children to have a say in matters affecting them. However, true participation, especially for young children and those with disabilities, still lags behind what legislation and policy requires. The document also notes that while there are challenges like inequalities and punitive criminal justice systems for children in the UK, many children also report being happy and wanting to succeed in life.

1. Working With Families:
Ensuring Participation
Nathan Loynes

2. As we have seen:
• Participation is multifaceted (Watson & Tovey,
2012:178) and complex.
• Children’s rights remain and area of
contention (Alderson, 2001 cited in Ibid). i.e.
the Marcel Berlin’s article on ‘Junior Courts’.
• The UNCRC 1989 (A. 12) sets out the nation
states obligations towards children re:
participation.
[Source: Adams, 2012, Working with Children & Families]

3. United Nation Convention on Rights of
the Child 1989 (UNCRC)
• Nations that ratify this convention are bound
to it by international law.
• Compliance is monitored by the UN
Committee on the Rights of the Child, which is
composed of members from countries around
the world.

4. Currently, 193 countries have signed up to it
including every member of the United Nations
except:
• Somalia,
• South Sudan and the
• United States

5. The Convention says that
every child has:
• The right to a childhood (including protection from
harm)
• The right to be educated (including all girls and boys
completing primary school)
• The right to be healthy (including having clean water,
nutritious food and medical care)
• The right to be treated fairly (including changing laws
and practices that are unfair on children)
• The right to be heard (including considering children's
views)

6. The Convention sets out these
rights in
54
articles

7. Article 12
Respect for the views of the child.
• In order to express these views, children need
to be encouraged to participate.
• However, true participation in decision making
still lags behind what legislation and policy say
should happen.
• Especially for young children and disabled
children.

8. The three ‘P’s
The kinds of rights afforded to children can be generally classified as
either a right relating to
Provision
Protection
Participation
[Source: Bardy, 2000, The three P’s of Children’s Rights]

9. • The UNCRC defines a child as anyone under 18.
• There are 12.4 million children aged 0-19 in
the UK
• This is about 20% of the population
• There are good and bad things about being a
child in England (note England is not the UK!)
[Source: WWW.Crea.org.uk accessed 20 11 2012]

10. The bad things:
• Very punitive approach to children in the criminal
justice system
• There are severe inequalities of family income
with high levels of child poverty.
• Children in Care have very poor outcomes.
• Compared with Europe they are more likely to
use alcohol, drugs and have early sex.
• Children feel more unsafe and feel more pressure
(i.e. Exams)
[Source: WWW.Crea.org.uk accessed 20 11 2012]

11. The Good Things:
• (Up until recently) Importance was given to
children in policy and legislation (i.e. ECM)
• Most children report that they are happy and
they want to succeed.
• Children are better educated.
• Most young people want to contribute
towards their community.
[Source: WWW.Crea.org.uk accessed 20 11 2012]