Guidance material for the participation of children and youth

Portuguese guidance material with principles, tools, and recommendations for child and youth participation, aiming to support institutions in designing inclusive and rights-based processes.

This resource presents a Portuguese national framework to promote meaningful involvement of children and adolescents in decisions that affect them. It aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, emphasizing participation as a right, principle, and practice. The guide details principles of transparency, voluntariness, respect, relevance, inclusiveness, and accountability, and offers practical tools for institutions — schools, municipalities, NGOs — to implement participatory projects. It highlights approaches such as the Lundy model (space, voice, audience, influence), outlines steps for safe and ethical processes, and stresses the importance of feedback and monitoring. Its aim is to transform participation from occasional consultation into a systemic, sustainable practice across education, health, justice, and community development.

Source: Comissão Nacional de Promoção dos Direitos e Proteção das Crianças e Jovens
Language: English

Year of publication: 2022