Children's Rights

Child Participation and Empowerment

Children have the right to express their views freely in all matters affecting them, and to have those views given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity. Child participation is not simply about listening to children; it is about recognising them as rights holders and active participants in decisions that shape their lives and communities.

The Right to Be Heard

Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises every child's right to express their views freely in all matters affecting them. It also requires that children's views be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity. This right applies to decisions within the family, school, community, justice system, and public institutions. Children must have meaningful opportunities to express themselves, and adults must take their perspectives seriously.

Child Participation in Palestine

Palestine acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2014, affirming its commitment to protecting children's rights, including their right to participation. Despite this commitment, children continue to face barriers to meaningful participation. These may include limited awareness of their rights, social and cultural attitudes that discourage children from speaking, insufficient child-friendly spaces, and limited opportunities to influence decisions that affect them.

Children as Partners

Children should be recognised as partners in identifying problems, shaping solutions, and evaluating the services and policies intended to protect them. Their experiences and perspectives provide essential insight into the challenges they face and the support they need. Meaningful participation goes beyond symbolic consultation. It requires creating opportunities for children to contribute to decisions and ensuring that their views are considered and acted upon where appropriate.

Safe and Meaningful Participation

Participation must be voluntary, inclusive, accessible, and appropriate to children's age and development. Children should receive clear information, be able to express themselves freely, and participate without pressure, discrimination, or fear of negative consequences. Their privacy, dignity, safety, and best interests must always be protected. Adults and organisations must use ethical approaches that prevent harm and ensure that children's involvement is meaningful rather than tokenistic.

SIYAJ's Approach

SIYAJ believes that children are not merely beneficiaries of protection services; they are rights holders whose voices and experiences must inform the decisions affecting them. SIYAJ works to promote children's awareness of their rights, strengthen opportunities for them to express their views, and encourage families, communities, institutions, and decision-makers to listen to and respect children's perspectives. Children's participation strengthens protection systems, supports accountability, and contributes to decisions that better reflect children's needs, experiences, and best interests.