Human Rights education through Youth Work

Introduction

Youth participation actively involves young people in decision-making processes on issues that affect them. Young people make invaluable contributions to communities and are empowered themselves when they participate. This chapter refers to those people whose job it is to work with young people.

Participation is a fundamental right. It is one of the guiding principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that has been reiterated in many other Conventions and Declarations. Through active participation, young people are empowered to play a vital role in their own development as well as in that of their communities, helping them to learn vital life-skills, develop knowledge on human rights and citizenship and to promote positive civic action. To participate effectively, young people must be given the proper tools, such as information, education about and access to their civil rights.

The existing human rights frameworks apply to young people just as they apply to everyone else. Additionally, young people who fall into any of the categories for which there are dedicated international instruments, such as young people with disabilities and young women are also protected by these instruments. States bear the primary responsibility to ensure young people have full access to all their rights without any barriers; as such they are ‘duty-bearers’, and can be held accountable when they fail to fulfill their obligations.

There is a clear discrepancy between the rights young people have according to the law and the extent to which they are able to enjoy those rights in practice. This effectively means that young people’s rights remain unrealised.

Aim and objectives. The aim of the chapter is to make an understanding on social inclusion, youth rights and participation, bringing different approaches and thinking analytical on the issues young people meet day by day. The chapter’s objectives are the following:

To understand participation as youth right;
To get familiar with the involvement stages of youth;
To gain knowledge on guidelines for Youth Participation.

As Youth Work is engaging in diverse areas with young people, it means that this topic is a fundamental aspect of their activity. During Youth Work activity, Youth Workers are responsible to ensure the social inclusion, youth rights and participation, which enable young people to think differently and more widely, assuring to give solutions to their problems, respecting them and raising their potential for future development.

Participation as youth right

What is participation?

Participation can be defined as a right and a process in which children and young people become active contributors to their own lives and are connected to the lives of their communities. Therefore, the basis of participation is the possibility to control your own life. This includes the development of skills such as self-confidence or self-efficacy, critical thinking or leadership abilities. Young people apply these skills to become better and to help others.

In simple language, participation involves young people's involvement in planning, making and evaluating decisions made in the family, school, organization, institution, or community in which they live.

Participation can be defined as "a continuous process of children's expression and an active involvement in decision-making at different levels on issues that concern them. It requires the exchange of information and dialogue between children and adults on the basis of mutual respect and requires a full analysis of their views, taking into account the age and maturity of the child.

At international level, youth participation is a priority. According to the United Nations Youth Strategy 2030, the first priority work in the coming years is "Involvement, Participation and Advocacy - Amplifying the Voice of Young People to Promote a peaceful, Fair and Sustainable World." In the same vein, with regard to young people in the Council of Europe, [The Declaration of the 8th Conference of Ministers responsible for youth of the Council of Europe, "Future of the Council of Europe Policy for Youth: AGENDA 2020") is an essential priority to promote participation active participation of young people in democratic processes and structures, and ensuring equal opportunities for all young people to participate in all aspects of everyday life.

Participation as young people

Participation rights refer to a set of interconnected provisions of the Convention on the Protection of Children, which require the active involvement and participation of young people at all levels of society in matters pertaining to them. Together, these provisions reflect the fact that young people have civil and political rights that governments have the duty to respect, protect and fulfill.

Within the Council of Europe, youth participation is perceived as "the right of young people to be included and to assume their responsibilities and responsibilities in everyday life at the local level, as well as the right to democratically influence the processes of their lives." Participation as a right also means that all young people can exercise this right without discrimination - regardless of their origin or language.

Relevant articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child:

Art. 5 - Parental direction and guidance in accordance with children's development capacity
Article 9 - Non-separation of children from families without the right to make their views known
Article 12 - Right to be heard and taken seriously
Article 13 - Right to freedom of expression
Art. 14 - Right to freedom of conscience, thought and religion
Art. 15 - Right to freedom of association
Article 16 - Right to privacy
Article 17 - Right to information
Article 29 - The right to education that promotes respect for human rights and democracy
Article 42 - Children's right to know their rights

Participation – towards other rights

Adolescent participation is not just a right in itself; is also a prerequisite for the exercise of all other rights within the family, school and the community in a broader sense. E.g:

Responsible Budgeting: Young people need to be consulted about choosing competing priorities for resource use and developing plans and policies that affect them. They can effectively support budget allocations and monitor the implementation of social programs created for their well-being. In this way, they can contribute to the political, social and economic progress of their communities and can support the process of consolidating democratic governance.
Health: Adolescents have the right to access basic information about health and nutrition and support in the use of this knowledge.
Education: Adolescents should have the opportunity to develop their talents and abilities to fulfill their potential in order to gain their trust and self-esteem, use their initiative and creativity, acquire life skills and make informed decisions and understand and experience pluralism, tolerance and democratic coexistence. They also have the right to influence and have a say in designing school curriculum, learning methods and school governance structures.

Developing Young People’s participation

Young people’s participation develops as they become more involved and more experienced. This doesn’t happen all at once but is a gradual progression as they learn through different experiences, activities and opportunities. The following model shows different stages that young people may progress through as they increase their participation, involvement and responsibility.

Awareness of these different stages is important in helping youth work volunteers and the youth group to design and use activities and projects that are suitable for different young people at different stages.

Youth participation and involvement stages:

Stage

Characteristics

1. Making Contact

Young people make contact with the youth group, other young people, youth workers and volunteers.
Young people have access to information and opportunities.
This is the start of relationships of trust and sharing being developed.

A goal at this stage is young people wanting to come back for more.

2. Active Participation

Young peoples’ confidence grows as they establish new relationships with adults and other young people.
They become more able to engage actively and express their views and ideas.

They feel included and listened to.

3. Involvement and Responsibility

Young people begin to assist in taking action and responsibility, and take part in activities developed from their interests and needs.
They contribute to the planning and organisation of activities and programmes.

They set the agenda.

4. Taking a Lead

Young people become more independent taking full responsibility and control of their actions within the youth group.

Group work is led by young people, and young people take on roles to support and lead their peers and other young people.

3. Guidelines for Youth Participation

Youth participation is important and has benefits for the young people themselves, the youth group and community as a whole. It is the role of the volunteer youth worker to encourage young people’s participation. Young people become more confident and enthusiastic when they see that their views are being taken seriously and acted upon. They feel increased ownership of and responsibility for their youth group. Their self-esteem improves, they gain skills, and they become more likely to actively participate in other areas of their lives (for example their local community, school, politics).

If young people are involved in planning and decision-making, the youth group activities are more likely to be relevant and enjoyable for young people. This means young people are more likely to attend, and display good behaviour when they do.

Treat all young people and adults with respect