Participation Rights

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child has taken into consideration the importance of participation of the child for development and better understanding of the rights.

The convention states in:-

Article 12

1. States 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.
2. For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.

Principle of Participation in Part II in Juvenile Justice (Child Care and Protection) Act, 2015 states that ”Every Child has the right to be heard and participate in all processes and decisions affecting his interest and child’s views shall be taken into consideration with regard to age and maturity of the child.

Article 13

1. The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice.

The National Action Plan on Children gives equal emphasis on participation of children as it gives to development, survival and protection. It recognizes that children lack information on their own rights , policies and programmes concerning them and they are seldom heard. The NPAC seeks to create an environment where children’s confidence and ability can be built which will not only enable them to express their views freely but deal with trauma and stress and participate meaningfully.

Article 17

States Parties recognize the important function performed by the mass media and shall ensure that the child has access to information and material from a diversity of national and international sources, especially those aimed at the promotion of his or her social, spiritual and moral well-being and physical and mental health.

Article 31

1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.

2. States Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.

For a child who is in conflict with law and is involved in a proceeding the UNCRC states that child will given opportunity in the proceedings and his/her views shall be considered.

To encourage Children’s participation the Indian Government has constituted various awards and scholarships for children like National Award for Child Welfare, National Child Award for exceptional Achievements, KVPY , NTSE etc.

Children must be perceived not as mere recipients of knowledge but as active players in the learning process. Fulfilling the right of children to participate entails training and mobilizing adults who live and work with children, so that they are prepared to give the children the chance to freely and increasingly participate in society and gain democratic skills. (by UNICEF)

Disclaimer: The above information are as per UNCRC and is not drafted by VCRO