76th MEETING OF THE DIRECTING COUNCIL OF THE
INTER-AMERICAN CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE

May 9-11, 2001
Montevideo, Uruguay

Espaņol

CD/RES. 13 (76-R/01)

PARTICIPATION OF CHILDREN IN POLITICAL FORA

THE DIRECTING COUNCIL,

WHEREAS:

It has been shown that, when afforded authentic opportunities to participate, the contributions of children and adolescents to local, national and international fora are outstanding;

Articles 12, 13, 14, and 15 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child establish the inalienable right of children to participate in matters affecting them;

The participation of children and adolescents should consider and contemplate their level of development and maturity, according to their various developmental stages;

The contributions that can be made from their points of view and from the perception of their needs, are considered key issues for the planning and implementation of policies, plans and programs for which they are the target population;

The participation of children and adolescents is one of the guarantees that States can offer for building citizenship and strengthening democracy;

RESOLVES:

  1. To recommend that the Member States create concrete, effective mechanisms to ensure the participation of children and adolescents in the political fora of the region.
  2. To entrust the Inter-American Children's Institute with advising the Member States, upon request, on the development of the best methodologies, so that this participation is authentic and not altered by factors that are external to them and their legitimate interests.
  3. To recommend that the States devote the necessary resources to support the attendance, stay, and protection of those children and adolescents who are invited to participate in the various events on child and adolescent affairs.
  4. To suggest that each and every deliberative body of the OAS system formally examine its mandate, with a view to assessing its impact on children and adolescents, and, where necessary and appropriate, develop policies and procedures to facilitate the participation of children and adolescents and the inclusion of their points of view.