CATS 2015, the perfect place to reflect on the obstacles to realising children’s participation

August 2015

Five of our partners from Eastern Africa and Eastern Europe, involved in our Child Rights Capacity Development programme with Oak Foundation grantees, had the chance to participate in the third edition of CATS-Children as Actors for Transforming Society at the end of July 2015. For one week they exchanged views and discussed the ins and outs of children’s participation with children, young people and other child rights practitioners from around the world.

As the week started so did the workshops, including one led by Gerison Lansdown, Chair of Child to Child and international consultant on children’s rights and co-facilitated by Darren Bird, international consultant on children’s rights and former director of Funky Dragon. Together they trained child, youth and adult workshop participants in research skills. Workshop participants subsequently applied these skills and conducted consultations with CATS’ participants on the draft General Comment on Adolescents, which Gerison Lansdown had developed.

This workshop raised many questions, as noted by Samuel Likindikoki from MUHAS (Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania):

One is, the term ‘adolescent’ seems to be a tricky concept and adolescents themselves do not like the term. What should be the right terminology to describe teenagers between the ages of 10-18? The second issue is how to balance protection of this young, dynamic group versus the need for them to be responsible participants in the community. For example, teenagers may need more independence and freedom but at the same time protection becomes of the essence especially during this digital era.

CATS takes place in the beautiful Caux Palace in the mountains overlooking Montreux and Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Its location and the atmosphere led Carolyn Namutebi, from CENETI (Civic Education Network International, Uganda) to compare how difficult it is to climb a mountain to the challenge of ensuring children’s rights.

Most parents and caregivers would rather appreciate the rights of children where they as parents – selfishly – benefit and where the rights are easy to implement. However, it’s high time we realise that those rights that require sweating and ‘seemingly’ giving up our own rights as parents have a lot of benefit and beauty if one draws closer to internalise. For example, when children can, from infancy, think through what they like and do not like, it is a good training for them to learn how to make decisions and be responsible for their own decisions. This requires little efforts and ‘no pushing’ from their parents and caregivers. Thus that is the beauty of letting children enjoy their rights, especially the right to participation, non-discrimination and letting things happen in their best interest with their approval. However, it requires sweat for the parents and caregivers as they let children be, providing a platform for them and facilitating their growth and development in a responsible manner – which I know every parent and caregiver desires!

Tanya Stihari, from CRIC (Child Rights Information Centre, Moldova) reflected upon the challenges inherent in trying to realise children’s rights to participate after hearing the story of street children in India during the Human Library activity. She found their story very moving and felt it could encourage other children. But yet it made her question:

Is being brave sufficient to provoke change? Why do children need courage in approaching authorities/adults? We shouldn’t be their enemies. They shouldn’t struggle for their rights; they should receive them naturally! All across the world, the adults and the children should be PARTNERS for change!

Being at the conference enabled the Oak grantee organisations to better understand the concept of child participation as they saw it being realised and lived out at the conference. Carolyn from CENETI saw the power of children to lead successful initiatives:

How many times do we as development workers, parents, teachers and most adults think that we need to help the young people in advocating for their issues, and in the long run we leave them behind because we would like to dialogue with the ‘big officials’ in a formal way? I realised the need to let the young people take their issues forward; they can cause very positive impact in the presence of those with ‘power’ if given the opportunity to think on their own platform. In Uganda and some other countries, if some children invited the ‘official with the power’ and asked them to come observe what happens at school – children on empty stomachs, dirty latrines shared among the girls and boys – it will be small but powerful!

How can we then facilitate that power and zeal from the young people, because they already have it!