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Summary: The following recommendations are based on an analysis of 16 alternative reports to the CRC where children were involved and are aimed at those that wish to include children in the reporting process to the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Relevant documents: ________________________________________________________ Recommendations Based on the review and analysis of the aforementioned reports, and interviews conducted with NGOs and other child participation experts, World Vision Canada has compiled the following recommendations to assist other organizations that wish to support children’s participation in the periodic reporting process. 1) Follow a comprehensive and ethical process: Including children in the alternative reporting process requires careful planning and implementation, and it is critical that a comprehensive and ethical process is followed. All too easily, child participation can become exploitive or tokenistic. Having a set of guidelines or a process to follow can assist those including children in the monitoring and reporting process. 2) Record the process: As is evident from the 16 reports summarized, children’s participation is often not monitored and documented as closely as it could be. Documenting the methodologies and procedures used in the report will assist other organizations that wish to support children’s participation in subsequent monitoring and reporting efforts. Including information such as how the children involved were gathered, what steps were taken to solicit their ideas and opinions, child protection policies that were adopted, and methods used to ensure that the children’s views were not skewed between the gathering and writing of the report is essential. It is also valuable to record how children’s participation impacted the children themselves, as well as how it impacted government’s implementation of the CRC. 3) Use direct quotes: Including quotations from children within the report adds greater weight and validity to what is being presented. Including what children have said in their own words gives them more ownership of the report. 4) Don’t exclude the very young: Often the very young are excluded from the articipation experience. All children have valuable information to share; the challenge is to find ways for children of all ages and levels of maturity and ability to participate. Methods such as dramas/plays, collages and drawings are just some of the ways to get younger children involved in the reporting process. 5) Network with others: When an NGO decides to include children in the alternative reporting process, it is important to find other organizations that interact with children to seek out opportunities to collaborate. By partnering with a number of organizations, it is easier to reach a greater number of children from a wider range of backgrounds. You will also ensure that work is not being duplicated, and make better use of resources. 6) Value the process and not just the product: The participation of children within the monitoring and reporting process should be a means of empowering children and youth and contributing to the realization of their rights. Through participation in monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the CRC, children gain the opportunity to learn about their rights and hold their government accountable. Moreover, the process should also provide children with the tools they need to continue contributing to the realization of their own rights and the rights of others. The information gathered in the alternative report, in combination with the Committee’s recommendations, can and should be used to promote further child participation. The information presented in the alternative report should be based on what is important to the children, and can lead to other advocacy efforts at the local, national and international levels. For instance, the children who participated in the reporting process may become motivated to see how their ideas and recommendations influenced the Committee’s Concluding Observations, and may become involved in advocating that the government take action to implement the Committee’s recommendations. Thus, a follow-up meeting with the children is one way to provide the children with additional skills development, and to discuss opportunities for further involvement in advocacy for the implementation of the CRC.
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