"Children and young people have a right to be consulted on public policies and services that affect them and this can lead to better policies and services.
“They hold valuable opinions on a range of issues from education to good relations and public authorities have a duty to hear and take account of these when formulating their policies and services”, said Antoinette McKeown, Head of Policy and Develop
ment of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, speaking at last week’s launch of new guidance.
The ‘Let’s Talk Let’s Listen’ guidance has been designed to assist public authorities to consult with children and young people and provides advice on best practice. In Northern Ireland there is a range of strategies and policies in place which affect children and young people including the Executive’s ‘Ten Year Strategy for Children and Young People’.
Most policies and laws will have a direct or indirect effect on everyone in society and they often cut across demographic divides including age which may impact on our younger generation.
Ms McKeown also said: “It is important for public authorities to consult with and involve children in policy decisions and indeed they are duty bound by the equality and good relations duties set out in Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to do so.”
“The new guidance aims to assist public authorities to consult with children and young people in a meaningful way when they are developing policies. It outlines best practice and encourages public authorities to go beyond consultation and promote active participation with younger people.”
She concluded: “’The Let’s Talk Let’s Listen' guidance was designed with input from children and young people and public consultation. We hope this guidance will enable public authorities to ensure effective consultation with such a large and important group within our society.”
The guidance suggests proposals for consulting with children and young people effectively. It outlines methods of consultation which children and young people prefer, practical issues to consider and the legal and ethical issues that should be considered.
The guidance can be accessed from the Equality Commission’s website www.equalityni.org
The full article contains 362 words and appears in Ballymoney Times newspaper.
