Child and youth participation at Barnafrid
Children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues that affect them
Barnafrid's work with child and youth participation is based on Article 3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (In all actions concerning children, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration) and Article 12 (Children have the right to express their views and be heard in all matters affecting them).
Many children and young people feel that they are not consulted or listened to. This is why Barnafrid places particular emphasis on including children in the processes that affect them.
Since 2022, Barnafrid has worked with two youth panels, in collaboration with two upper secondary schools in Östergötland.
Barnafrid's youth panels
Empowering youth voices
Barnafrid's youth panels have worked together with analysts at Barnafrid to interpret, find solutions and contribute to deeper insights into Barnafrid's work from a youth perspective.
During the year, the youth councils have been involved in several assignments. In the autumn of 2023, the youth councils discussed what society needs to prioritise in 2024 in terms of violence against children and young people, as part of Barnafrid's work to compile and report on urgent development areas.
The Barnafrid model of child and youth participation
The Barnafrid model of child and youth participation, developed in collaboration with children and young people, provides professionals with a practical tool for including them in their activities.
The model has been successfully piloted with children aged 12-17 and is continuously used by Barnafrid’s youth panel and in research. It emphasizes viewing children as active participants in their own lives. The model is presented in the handbook Children's and young people's voices.
Download Handbook Children's and young people's voices (PDF)