Unlocking children’s voices during SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown

摘要

Children have a right to be heard. Involving children in decision-making and development promotes their rights which can make a positive difference locally and globally on issues that matter to them.1 The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) defines a child as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. The UNCRC includes obligations of communities and states to fulfil children’s rights2 and includes respect for the views of the child (Article 12) and freedom of expression (Article 13). While seeking children’s views in a tokenistic fashion is wrong, not seeking their input on the basis that it would be tokenistic is also wrong, but arguably not as wrong as not seeking their views at all.