Growing up in Denmark, I had many opportunities to be heard, whether it was in relation to deciding my weekly chores at home, influencing the curriculum in history class, or being consulted on draft legislation that would criminalise physical punishment of children. This was not exceptional for my peers, either. However, I quickly realised that, outside my immediate environment, being heard was the exception for children rather than the rule.

Having worked with, and for, children in different socio-economic and political contexts for many years, I have experienced how much can go wrong when we do not include children in decisions which impact their lives. However, I have also been able to witness the incredible impact child participation can have when we get it right. Working with children and young people across the globe, I have observed children thrive while developing important life skills when being invited to participate in decisions concerning their lives, may that be in schools, in consultations on the spending of public budgets, or through co-creation processes aimed at ensuring that public places serve inter-generational needs. Similarly, I have observed state officials – at times with certain reservations at the outset – become committed child rights advocates when first experiencing working with children and young people. It is incredibly rewarding for everyone involved.

Recent developments have shed light on the fact that our current perception of children and their rights is not sustainable. The COVID-19 pandemic is a good example of how child rights were largely excluded from the emergency response planning, resulting in a global mental health crisis amongst children and young people, a dramatic increase in violence against children, a devastating increase in child poverty, and more than a billion children left without access to education. Climate change is another example of how adults at the highest political levels have made laws and policies that have had devastating consequences for the environment, leaving younger generations with the almost unmanageable task of saving the planet.

Fortunately, in recent years we have also seen encouraging interest in working with children on the formulation and prioritisation of policies, strategies, and projects. This commitment comes with a growing need for support, as many do not feel comfortable taking this work forward on their own due to lack of know-how and resources. The Child Friendly Governance Project was established to support various stakeholders, ranging from governments at all levels to community groups, civil society organisations, the private sector, and the media, in translating this commitment into concrete and measurable results.

In line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals, our vision is to create a world in which children and young people reach their full potential through the equal realisation of their rights. This centres significantly on their right to be given an effective voice in decision-making processes affecting their lives. Our work builds on the important contributions of child rights pioneers such as Gerison Lansdown, Laura Lundy, and Sonia Livingstone, as well as leading international and regional organisations such as UNICEF, Save the Children, World Vision, and the EU.

Our aim is to support partners in strengthening the awareness and understanding of child rights and establishing child-friendly governance systems and processes in a manner that is effective, safe, and meaningful to everyone involved. We also hope to contribute to strengthening the capacities and skills of adults, children, and young people alike.

Involving children in decision-making processes impacting their lives is key to ensuring that children can realise their rights. But it also comes with many secondary benefits, including helping children to develop important life skills such as creativity, problem solving ability, communication, teamwork, and global citizenship. According to the World Economic Forum these are among the most important life skills.

Moreover, child participation is crucial to the strengthening of democratic systems. According to the Freedom House, our democracies have been in decline for 16 consecutive years. When implemented successfully, child-friendly governance can bring democratic participation and decision-making below the age of 18 in a manner that is adapted to children’s needs, while at the same time promoting their interest in civic engagement and democratic participation. An investment in child-friendly governance is therefore an investment in democracy.

The time has never been better to invest in child-friendly governance as we enter an age of increasing uncertainty and global challenges. More transparent, equitable, and inclusive participatory decision-making will benefit the children of today and tomorrow and ultimately society at large.

Why we need to invest in child-friendly governance

Gerison Lansdown on child-friendly governance and democracy