Negotiating Minimum Standards for Children’s Participation in Consultations

Abstract

*Focus on Southeast Asia, East Asia and the Pacific | Reports from the Field

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.