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Home > UN Special Session on Children > Children's participation Children's participationSpecial Session on Children | On the road to the Special Session | Children's Participation at the Special Session | Children's Forum
On the road to the Special Session Young people were involved in the lead up to the Special Session in local, national, regional and international meetings. They took part in consultations on drafts of 'A World Fit for Children'. There were regional meetings of young people prior to high-level regional meetings where young people also participated. Young people met in New York prior to the second and third Prepcoms. Children's participation at the Special SessionThe direct participation of children and young people in the Special Session process made it unique. Their dynamic contribution to the preparatory process demonstrated their need for a central role in the Special Session itself. Their participation included:
Children's Forum: 5-7 May 2002Children and youth who participated in the preparatory process for the Special Session made it very clear: they wanted to be treated as partners and they wanted their views to be taken seriously by the adult delegates. They also want to meet together in their own space, their own time and in their own style. In recognition of this UNICEF, in collaboration with NGOs and children's groups, supported the holding of a three-day Children's Forum. The Forum, held in New York before the Special Session, has given the under-18s who are part of official government or NGO delegations the chance to share their ideas before the Session actually begins. The Children's Forum has given participants the chance to explore the issues highlighted in the outcome document of the Special Session,'A World Fit for Children'. Discussions included how they can be involved in the implementation and monitoring of the goals of 'A World Fit for Children' and how they can influence their own governments, UN agencies, NGOs and others involved in the implementation process. Children and youth who are unable to take part in the Children's Forum or attend the Special Session can take part through UNICEF's Voices of Youth website. UNICEF is committed to children and youth having a forum to express their views. There are child-friendly versions of 'A World Fit for Children' [ word and pdf formats ] and 'We the Children' [ word and pdf formats ]. Further reading Visit UNICEF's under-18 zone. Children's Forum agenda draft, International Save the Children Alliance. Dated 26 April 2002. [word and pdf formats]. National Plans of Action for Children Involving Children and Young People in their development, a report by Save the Children on the consultation with 4500 children in 14 countries [word and pdf formats] |
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