Respect for the views of the child

The Committee welcomes that the child’s right to be heard has been incorporated in several laws in recent years, recalling its general comment No. 12 (2009) and recommends that the State Party develop strategies, action plans and common national guidelines on how and when the right to be heard must be guaranteed for all children and ensure that children’s views and opinions are given due consideration in decisions concerning child welfare, asylum, expulsion, family reunification and in time of crises.

The Committee recommends that the State Party ensure the right to be heard of children in disadvantaged situations, including children with disabilities and children of a younger age.

The Committee recommends that the State Party promote the meaningful participation of children within the family, community, at school and in the realm of local and national policymaking and decisionmaking affecting children;

The Committee recommends that the State Party strengthen children’s and youth councils and ensure that their outcomes and of other types of participative bodies systematically inform public decision-making.

The Committee recommends that the State Party secure guidance and collect and disseminate data on participation.

The Committee recommends that the State Party guarantee that children can speak to services without parental consent, and that they can receive information and express their views before information about them is shared, unless it affects their best interests.