The children from Ghana spoke about their rights as children at the conference in New York

15 October 2009: 2 Children from Plan Ghana played key roles at the UN General Assembly discussions on child participation in New York. They were part of West Africa’s ‘Violence Against Children’ project, and have received advocacy training, helping them to help other children participate. 

In 2009, the General Assembly Resolution on the Rights of the Child was focused on “the right of the child to express his or her views freely in all matters affecting him or her” – in other words, child participation. 

Plan has been working with War Child Holland, Save the Children and UNICEF to inform key decision makers, partners, children of all ages and governments about the importance of children’s participation. 

So this year’s event aimed to increase understanding of children’s participation by involving them: the main part of the presentation was delivered by 2 children from Plan Ghana programmes, with the support of their peers from other Plan programmes around the globe.

Child participation is key

They introduced their speech, made recommendations and had the opportunity to ask the audience questions on child participation. The children also talked about their own experiences working with Plan Ghana, such as their rights clubs and communities. The adult participants commended the children on their contribution.

One child said: “We have had the opportunity to share with the other children and adults about why it is important to listen to and consider the views of children when taking decisions that concern them.

“We plan to share this experience with our brothers and sisters in our children’s rights club and our friends at school.” 

Meeting the Special Representative on violence against children

The event was also an opportunity for the children to meet Ms Marta Païs, the Secretary General’s newly appointed Special Representative on Violence Against Children (VAC).
 
She expressed that she would keep in touch with the VAC group in West Africa, and that she hopes she will be in the position of helping and supporting children initiatives to end violence against children and make them heard in society.

Find out more about Plan's work in Ghana