Statement of the South Asian Task Force on Children's Participation

The second meeting of the CWA South Asian Task Force on Children's Participation was held in Bangalore, India from November 27 to 29, 2002, hosted by the Concerned for Working Children. This Task Force consists of 7 child representatives from 7 children's organisations and an equal number of adult representatives from NGOs working on the issue of child labour and children's rights in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Our members from Pakistan could not join us here in India, as they were not granted the visa. Their absence was strongly felt and overcoming such obstacles is one of the big challenges ahead of us.

The Task Force is organised to ensure children's participation in South Asia at all levels of action related to child labour and children's rights.

The Task Force has adopted the following definition of children's participation:

• Children's participation is an informed and willing involvement of all children including those who are differently abled and those at risk, in any matter concerning them either directly or indirectly, in a spirit of partnership.
• Children's Participation should be genuine, and an empowering process from the inception of any action.
• Children's participation is the most important principle and element in CRC that cuts across all other rights, namely: the right to development, survival and protection
• Children's participation is an evolving concept; it is a value, which cuts across all programmes and takes place in all arenas - from homes to governments, from local to international levels.

Children's participation enables children to:

• 'belong'
  
• 'be heard'
  
• 'be important'
  
• 'contribute'
  
• 'get to know their problems and solve them'
  
• 'participate in all decision making forums '
  
• 'develop their potentials and talents'
  
• 'learn',
  
• 'be a continuing part of many solutions'
  
• 'be organised for making collective efforts' and
  
• 'interact and build relations with adults'

Children's participation should not be tokenistic and adults should not use children and their spaces to earn money. Adults have the responsibility to remove the hurdles, which hamper children's participation, and create conducive environments for children to participate in. Children also have a responsibility to make their participation a reality.

In order to realise children's participation, as defined, this meeting of the Task Force formulated a plan of action for the period of 2003-2006. The plan aims to enhance the understanding of children's participation, build capacities of adults and children in facilitating children's participation, and to create spaces for children to participate in their families, communities, schools, governance, and policy making. Some of the key activities planned include a Regional Training of Trainers (TOT) for child and adult facilitators, a Theatre Sports Festival and a Thematic Workshop on children's participation in Asia, a Regional Consultation with regional policy makers and a joint regional programme with the CWA South East Asian Task Force on children's participation. Representatives from Bhutan and Maldives will be identified and invited to join the Task Force in order to strengthen our regional action.

This South Asian Task Force is, to our knowledge, perhaps the first South Asian regional initiative placing children and adults as equal partners in conceptualising, planning and implementing a regional programme. We at the Task Force realise that this is an exciting challenge and a continuous learning process for all of us.

Our youngest member, Udaya Prasad (13 years) from Sri Lanka said, "Those who will live in the house should plan the house". This, in a sense, is the essence of children's participation. All we need now is the wisdom and perseverance to transform this knowledge into a reality for all children of our region and the world.

We look forward to your solidarity.

Members of the CWA South Asian Task Force on Children's Participation

• Arunodhaya Center for Street and Working Children, India
  
• Arunodhaya Children's Club, India
  
• Bhima Sangha, India
  
• Child Workers in Nepal, Nepal
  
• CONCERN Child Participatory Forum, Nepal
  
• Concern for Children and Environment, Nepal
  
• CWIN Child Rights Forum, Nepal
  
• National Network of Children's Organisations, Sri Lanka
  
• Sri Lanka Interactive Media Group, Sri Lanka
  
• Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child, Pakistan
  
• SPARC Children's Group, Pakistan
  
• The Concerned for Working Children, India
  
• UCEP Student's Group, Bangladesh
  
• Underprivileged Children Education Program, Bangladesh

November 30, 2002, Bangalore, India