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How Children and Young People Influence Policy‐Makers: Lessons from Nicaragua
Author(s) -
Shier Harry,
Méndez Marisol Hernández,
Centeno Meyslin,
Arróliga Ingrid,
González Meyling
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
children and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-0860
pISSN - 0951-0605
DOI - 10.1111/j.1099-0860.2012.00443.x
Subject(s) - empowerment , youth participation , accountability , inclusion (mineral) , citizenship , participatory action research , politics , citizen journalism , democracy , human rights , facilitation , public relations , work (physics) , sociology , political science , public administration , social science , mechanical engineering , anthropology , law , engineering
This article describes a participatory research project, which explored four case studies of children and young people's successful political advocacy in Nicaragua. The analysis combined a human rights‐based approach and a human development approach, and included concepts of multiple settings and levels, interrelated participation spaces, children and young people's citizenship, inclusion and exclusion, democracy, advocacy and empowerment. The main problems faced by children and young people seeking to influence policy‐makers were identified as adultism, dependency and lack of accountability. The research identified pre‐conditions, participation spaces and ways of organising for effective advocacy, and facilitation methods that had proved effective. It concludes that children and young people who achieve effective advocacy are generally self‐empowered, but can count on effective adult support and facilitation. They work through coordination with the authorities and not by clashing with them, but need to ensure effective follow up if they want politicians to keep their promises.