Guidelines on Online discussions with children

The right to be heard is one of the guiding principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC). Child participation asserts that children are active citizens. They have the right to freely express their views in matters that affect them, and that these views should be given due weight. Accordingly, child participation means empowering children to form their opinions and to make their voices heard in different settings that affect their lives. Children’s insights, opinions, and recommendations on matters that affect them must be taken into consideration because they are the ones who know best their situation and needs, and the ones who are mostly and directly affected.