Every year on September 20th, World Children’s Day commemorates a milestone in children’s rights history — the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the UN General Assembly in 1959, followed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.
Among these rights, the right to participation has gained increasing recognition in recent decades. Article 12 of the Convention asserts that children must have the freedom to express their views in all matters affecting them, and those views must be given due weight relative to their age and maturity. However, despite this legal foundation, meaningful participation remains one of the most frequently violated rights.
At Participa City, we recognize the importance of empowering kindergarten teachers to realize this fundamental right. Through our project we have developed training scenarios for kindergarten and early childhood educators, aimed at making them more sensitive to children’s participation. By equipping educators with tools to foster inclusive and meaningful participation, we contribute to breaking down barriers and creating everyday environments where children’s voices are valued and heard.
Source: Hart Ladder of Children’s Participation
In Europe, nearly one in four children still faces poverty or social exclusion, limiting their access to essential services and opportunities for involvement.
What can promote children’s realization of their right to participation in everyday contexts?
Meaningful participation of children depends on several key factors:
1. Trusting and close relationships with adults – participation requires dialogue and interaction within supportive relationships.
2. Traditional power dynamics must be challenged—adults need to respect children’s views and include them genuinely in decision-making rather than acting solely in children’s “best interests.”
3. Educating children about their rights empowers them to participate confidently and respect others’ rights.
4. Inclusion is vital, ensuring all children, including those with disabilities, are involved meaningfully. Read more: Children’s Participation in Decision-making: Good Practice Guidance from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office.
5. Participation should be ongoing and purposeful, not tokenistic, requiring active engagement and reflection.
6. Consistent and clear terminology around participation, agency, and competence avoids confusion.
7. Sufficient time, effort, and resources must be invested to enable children to understand issues and contribute effectively.
8. Accountability mechanisms like Child Rights Impact Assessment must be in place to uphold children’s participation rights, alongside continued research to improve participatory approaches.
Changing long-held beliefs and a narrative that portrays children as vulnerable individuals in need of protection will not happen overnight, and will require consistent efforts from policy makers, researchers, the media, society, parents and children themselves to underscore why this is important and how it can be beneficial.
On this World Children’s Day 2025, the message from Participa City partnership is clear: listening to children and enabling equal participation for all children is not optional — it is fundamental to respecting their rights and shaping a more just and inclusive society. Together, through dialogue and action, we must uphold the right of every child to be heard, valued, and empowered.