Child participation in advocacy: A decade of learning

Influencing systemic change is critical for eradicating all forms of child exploitation and child participation in advocacy is one of the cornerstones of Terre des Hommes Netherlands’ strategy. This study provides an in-depth analysis of child participation in influencing work between 2013 and 2023.

Our study, ‘A Ten-Year Retrospective: How Children Shaped Advocacy with Terre des Hommes Netherlands‘ aimed to reflect on the experiences of children who took part in advocacy activities and projects over the course of a decade. In addition to looking at the outcomes of their efforts, the study generated learning to be incorporated into the Terre des Hommes Netherlands Global Influencing Agenda and Strategy.

The findings of the study are presented as concrete recommendations for engaging meaningful child participation in influencing.

Plan and budget for safe and inclusive spaces

Advocacy activities always take place in safe and inclusive spaces. This is achieved by implementing safeguarding protocols and risk assessments, and includes practical considerations like making activities happen in daylight hours and ensuring safe transport home. Looking back, respondents recognised that project tackling harmful social gender norms, should be inclusive of boys as well as ensuring that project plans and budget to accommodate the needs of children with disabilities.

Collaborate to amplify children’s voices

Children participating in influencing activities need to have a good understanding of what they are advocating for and the opportunity to voice their opinions. To ensure this, collaborative or child-led processes for developing advocacy plans and messaging is important. This was recommedned to avoid situations where children complained of adult-centric programme activities where they were informed of advocacy plans, budgets and activities without being consulted or having any decision-making power.

Target the right audiences

Those with the power to bring about change and stop child exploitation should be targeted, but this is not the only criteria. When planning who children’s advocacy should engage directly as an audience, ensure that audiences are prepared to listen to children and have an appreciation of children’s rights. With some audiences, children felt they weren’t taken seriously or were disrespected.

Overall felt more heard and respected at local and subnational levels
compared to national, regional, and international levels. Before working with audiences at higher levels it might be necessary to spend time building audience understanding of children’s rights, child participation, and child exploitation before children directly engage them.

Influence is built over decades

Influencing work at national, regional and global levels provides key opportunities to hold duty bearers accountable for their obligations
and commitments to protecting children from exploitation, but influencing change at this level is complex, lengthy and often not child-friendly. Children may finish school and become adults in the time it takes for policy reform.

Programmes must recognise this and design engagement of children that prioritises their meaningful participation, but doesn’t create unrealistic expectations. Children involved in advocacy work receive regular feedback about the decisions made based on their input and are informed if no action is taken by the responsible parties.

This study highlighted the positive outcomes of child advocacy. These were significant, both for the communities involved and for the youth themselves. Youth advocates not only contributed to long-term, systemic change but also experience personal growth, increased confidence, and a heightened sense of responsibility and trust within their communities. These outcomes are a testament to the potential of well-structured advocacy programs to empower young people, turning them into role models and change agents who inspire others and drive positive transformations in their surroundings.

In conclusion, while there is still work to be done in enhancing the effectiveness of child participation in influencing work at higher levels, the report highlights the importance of continuing to invest in and improve local advocacy initiatives and increase interactions and feedback loops between those different levels of influencing work.