Guidelines for active listening to children and adolescents within public authorities

Practical guide for public administrations to listen to and involve children and adolescents in decision-making, with concrete recommendations, tools, and accountability steps.

This resource translates the right to be heard into actionable steps for governments: how to open effective listening/consultation processes, design youth-friendly communication, and ensure accountability by reporting back on what was done with young people’s input. It draws on Educo’s Activa la Escucha campaign and a participatory process with 145 youth (11–17 years) using the Listening Mailbox and the Listening Council. Core advice clusters around the “three Cs”: Childhood culture (recognize children as valid interlocutors), Count them in (include them from design to decisions), and Communication tailored to their channels and literacy. The guide also highlights gender and diversity lenses and references the Lundy model (Space–Voice–Audience–Influence) as a quality framework.

Source: Educo
Language: Spanish

Author: Gema Luengo and Laura Orellana

Year of publication: 2023