BACKGROUND:

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth wanted to get the views of children on their experience of being a child in Ireland. The views of the children will be included in Ireland’s Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Child later this year. Children have a right to a voice in decision-making and for their views to be taken seriously under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) (UNCRC) and the Government’s National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making (2015)

Aim of Consultation
To seek young people’s views on their experience of their rights

38 young people took part across the two days. Report will be available here for download upon publication

Comhairle members had the opportunity on the day to explore their own everyday lived experience of their rights. The group were then shown this Children’s Rights video to provide them with knowledge on children’s rights so that they can make informed decisions in their own lives.

In breakout rooms, young people answered the following consultation questions using the online platform Padlet

1. What is the best thing about being a young person in Ireland today?

2. What do you not like about being a young person in Ireland?

3. What is the one thing you would change for young people in Ireland?

UNCRC Youth Advisory Committee: 
20th and 24th April 2021

A Youth Advisory Group (YAG) of 8 young people was established to assist in the planning of the nationwide online consultations and who helped to pilot and tweak the draft methodology.