Negotiating Minimum Standards for Children's Participation in Consultations

Helen Veitch
External Consultant on Children’s Participation for the East Asia Pacific Regional Consultation
for the UN Study on Violence Against Children

Maria Corazon Buala
Under 18 Delegate at the Regional Consultation

Citation: Veitch, Helen and Maria Corazon Buala (2007). "Negotiating Minimum Standards for Children's Participation in Consultations." Children, Youth and Environments 17 (1): 43-61. Retrieved [date] from http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/

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Abstract

This field report aims to explain the process of developing Minimum Standards on Consulting with Children and the piloting of these standards at the East Asia Pacific Regional Consultation for the United Nations Secretary General’s Global Study on Violence against Children which took place from June 14-16, 2005 in Thailand. The report highlights the key issues that have emerged from implementing a set of standards on participation, such as their enforcement, what constitutes “minimum,” and how standards are different from good practice. The report looks at the implementation of the standards at a regional conference, including the development of a protocol, and the importance of national partners and a preparatory forum for children. Lessons learned are highlighted from all these processes. In addition, the report examines how standards can contribute towards the institutionalization of children’s participation.

Keywords: children’s participation, consultation, standards, East-Asia-Pacific, violence