This project aims to strengthen the voice of the child in child protection decision-making processes. Grounded in Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – which emphasizes the right of children to participate in decisions affecting their lives – this study seeks to make children’s voices an integral part of child protection processes.
Using a participatory framework, the research involves close collaboration with both children and child protection professionals to ensure that both the research process and its outcomes reflect the realities of everyday practice. By actively engaging children and youth in this research, the project explores their experiences, wishes and needs in participating in decision-making, as well as their sense of feeling heard and taken seriously throughout the process. Similarly, the perspectives of child protection professionals are examined to understand their needs and challenges in facilitating meaningful and equitable child participation. Through this collaborative approach, the study aims to co-develop practical strategies that strengthen the voices of children in child protection decision-making processes.
This multidisciplinary project combines expertise from child psychiatry, pedagogy, and youth law to ensure a comprehensive understanding of child participation. By bridging the gap between research, policy, and practice, the study aims to provide actionable insights and tools that empower both children and professionals, promoting participatory environments that uphold children’s rights within child protection systems.
