- Organisations need to map out the various areas where they work with children and young people and then identify those which would be strengthened by child participation.
- Ensure that everyone in the organisation has a shared understanding about what it means to be a child's rights organisation.
- Education is important – all members of the organisation have to buy into this and believe that they have a role to play.
- It is not enough for only the more confident and articulate to be heard. Those lacking in confidence must have a voice too and this requires more thought and planning. The Swedish helpline dedicated a lot of time and resource and put staff into schools to ensure wide representation from a range of young people of different abilities and backgrounds.
- It is important to be prepared for the unexpected – if young people don't like what you are proposing or suggest something different, then consider how this will be dealt with.
- If you involve young people in discussions and decision making, then be clear with them about what can happen as a result of their involvement.
- Accept that young people may not be able to commit to involvement on a long-term basis.
Child participation in the work of the helpline
It is clearly important to implement and embed the UNCRC in all aspects of the work of helplines (which are services designed for young people) and ensure that the voices of children and young people are heard.
Related news
Latest helpline trends: Quarter 4, 2023
The Insafe network of helplines collects data about the types of calls received and this is analysed every three months in order to look at possible trends and emerging issues.
Sextortion on the rise among boys as young as 11: we need people to report
The Maltese online abuse helpline has received about 20 reports with ages as young as 11 years old. The Safer Internet Centre seeks to promote online safety and offers support to victims of online abuse.
Empowering online safety: new nationwide media campaign by the Greek Safer Internet Centre
To address online safety challenges and promote a safer online environment for children, a nationwide TV campaign has been launched by the Greek Safer Internet Centre. This campaign aims to educate parents, caregivers, guardians and young people about the importance of online safety, provide practical tips and guidance for navigating the digital world responsibly, and inform about the support offered by the Greek helpline and hotline services.