The International Context (scroll down for the UK Context)

"Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child." Article 12, UN Convention on the Rights of a Child.

The UN Convention on the Rights of a Child was set up in 1989 as an international human rights treaty spelling out that all children have the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life. The Convention reflects the notion that children are equal citizens with equal rights in a world often dominated by adults and puts the onus on governments, policy makers, families, teachers, playworkers and anybody with responsibility for children to ensure their rights are upheld.

The Convention has now been ratified by 192 countries, including the UK, which signed up in 1991. Only two countries have yet to sign, making it the most popular treaty in the world.

The UK Context

As a result of signing the treaty, the government now has a responsibility and a commitment to ensure that the convention is reflected across all governmental departments where applicable.

Responsible for ensuring the government does this is the Children's and Young People's Unit.

The government's recently published Green Paper "Every Child Matters" (the content of which was consulted on widely with children) sets out a raft of aims and objectives, placing emphasis on the importance of children being a part of, and engaged with, their community.

It says:

"When we consulted children, young people and families, they wanted the government to set out a positive vision of the outcomes we want to achieve. The five outcomes which mattered most to children and young people were:

• Being healthy: enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle
• Staying safe: being protected from harm and neglect
• Enjoying and achieving: getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood
• Making a positive contribution: being involved with the community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour
• Economic well-being: not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential in life."

The UN Convention (in particular, Article 12), coupled with the government's commitment to child involvement, provides a foundation and framework for advocating increased children's participation across all children services.