Children must be given a say in future policy debates

A lot of work was undertaken by all sectors to inform the process and, for many of us, the latest phase culminated in the pre-sessional hearing in Geneva last October.

We arrived in Geneva anxious about how everyone was going to be heard, and determined that children and young people would not be marginalised in what had previously been a very adult-centred process. Some of the UN committee members met with young people from across the four UK jurisdictions ahead of the more formal hearing, with the adults. At times, the hearing was frenetic and complex, but it was very productive.

Once the formal process was over, the committee chair, Benyam Dawit Mezur, ensured young people had their say. Young people from each jurisdiction made a short statement with Northern Ireland having the final word.

We have been asking children and young people what they think of our priorities and also what their expectations are of me as their commissioner. As with the UN committee hearing, their feedback on my priorities was equally insightful and reasoned. Which begs the question: why is no one listening to them? Unlike the UK and Scottish Parliaments, Northern Ireland does not have a formal mechanism by which our legislative assembly engages with children and young people. As a result, many young people feel disengaged from political structures, and have little faith in politicians and decision makers. Northern Ireland has some amazing examples of participatory practice, so is well placed to have really effective formal political engagement processes. So what's holding us back - what are we afraid of?

The right to express views

The answer is many things, and that includes the thought of handing over power to young people. That often leads to objections that it is too difficult and unreasonable, or that it will lead to unpredictable demands. But these arguments do not stand up to scrutiny. Article 12 of the UNCRC says: "State parties shall assure to the child ... the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child shall be given due weight." It does not say that the State must do everything the child says, but that it should enter into dialogue with children about decisions made by governments and their agents.

We need to cultivate sustained long-term conversations and engagement with young people. Schools, youth organisations, playgroups, children's homes and custodial settings are well placed to facilitate these conversations.

There might be a concern about the impact of austerity and withdrawal of funding from projects and activities viewed as "non-essential". But participation is essential. It assists decision makers to understand the impact of their decisions and make better and ultimately more cost-effective ones to get the desired outcomes for children.

Another source of resistance to engaging properly might be that "now is not the time to ask children and young people because they will ask for things we can't afford or are pie in the sky". Of course children want well-equipped playgrounds and interesting things to do. But when we asked them about the biggest "asks", they weren't pie in the sky issues, but understandable expectations of how they would like to live. Being respected was one. Being safe was another. Others included being able to be themselves, and to have mental health issues taken seriously and the right support made available.

It is crucial that those in power are fully aware of the impact of decisions they make, and they plan to make. Who better to tell them about that impact than children and young people themselves.

Koulla Yiasouma is children's commissioner for Northern Ireland