https://www.ohchr.org/en/stories/2026/05/nothing-us-without-us-children-...
For the past 15 months, a group of eight children and young people (aged 12–19) from Bolivia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Wales, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have worked together to address gaps in quality child participation they say has long been overlooked by the international community.
What had been a lingering feeling, born from their personal experiences of participating in global, regional and national events, was confirmed by two global surveys and a virtual conference with their peers from all regions of the world. They concluded that children and young people are often underrepresented in decision-making in global events on policy and practice issues that concern them. Even when they are involved, they said, the quality of the processes is inconsistent.
After forming the Children and Young People’s Task Group, the team met regularly to develop a set of standards that would promote children and young people’s meaningful participation in global events. The right of children and young people to be heard and listened to in all matters that affect them is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and precisely described in its Article 12.
In 2024, children and young people aged 8-24 from 125 countries across the globe were surveyed. More than half of them indicated they had participated in at least one global event in the past decade. They shared whether they felt safe and included and whether the meeting had made sense to them. Those who had not been invited shared the reason why. All the participants to the surveys shared suggestions to improve their meaningful participation.
“We have gathered here today with representatives of the children and young people, along with our guests from all over the world, who have come together for one common goal, to make sure the voice of children and youth is not only heard, but respected,” said Amanda, the youngest member of the Task Group, as she opened the online event that took place in April 2026 to launch the standards.
“Include Us!” in more than what happened on the day
“When developing the standards we wanted to build on the existing frameworks and approaches within participation… We explored the Lundy Model of Participation - breaking down Article 12 into four key processes of Space, Voice, Audience, and Influence, and the Nine Basic Requirements of Child Participation set out by the UN Committee,” Arthur, a member of the Task Group from Wales said.
Arthur added that, to make the participation experience meaningful, accessible and inclusive, children should be included from the initial planning phase to the feedback or action phase after the event. Thus, the group sorted the standards in three core sections: Before, During, and After global events.
The standards also offer concrete ‘dos and don'ts’ guidance to organizers and is grouped in a set of core themes that include planning and co-design; safety; growth and leadership opportunities; peer exchange, fun and rest; influence, action and impact; and feedback and evaluation.
The Task Group decided to entitle the standards’ document “Include Us!” The phrase, Francine from Zambia explained, directly calls for children to be part of the decisions that affect their lives in all environments – at school, home and in society, including global events.
“Children are not just passive recipients but active participants. We say, “Nothing for us without us” as it promotes inclusivity and belonging,” she said.
Helen Griffiths, of UN Human Rights’ Child and Youth Rights Unit, stressed that children’s meaningful, safe and inclusive participation in global processes is vital for effective human rights decision making, both as a right and a practical necessity, to ensure laws, policies and programmes designed to promote children’s and young people’s rights reflect their realities.
“[They are] an essential part of holding States to account and ensuring effective action to address the barriers that children face in their daily lives,” Griffiths said. “Decisions affecting children’s lives aren’t just happening at home, in your community and in your country. They’re taking place in global spaces and meetings such as the Human Rights Council.”
Children and young people are uniquely placed to contribute to discussions because of their lived experiences, she added, and their participation can strengthen the relevance and impacts of these decisions.
“Their participation helps to strengthen the commitment and accountability to children’s rights, and this will lead to stronger outcomes for children, but also for all of society and for the planet.”
To develop the standards, the Task Group collaborated with several adult organizations that accompany and support the participation of children and young people in global events, including UN Human Rights.
The Task Group called on organizations working with children and young people worldwide who organize global events to adopt these standards and ensure their meaningful participation during all stages of design, implementation, follow-up and impact.
