International recommendation

Respect for the views of the child

Issue date:
Human rights body:
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
Themes:
MunicipalitiesPolitical and civic participation
Populations of concern:
Asylum seekers and refugeesChildrenPersons with an immigrant background and ethnic minoritiesPersons with disabilities
Relevant CRC article:
Art. 12 – Respect for children’s views
Source:
CRC/C/NOR/CO/5-6, para. 14

Recommended measures (5)

Measure
Measure type:
Practices and guidelines
Responsible Ministries:
Ministry of Children and FamiliesMinistry of Justice and Public SecurityMinistry of Labour and Social Affairs

The State party should increase its efforts to strengthen compliance in practice with the child’s right to be heard, in particular with regard to children who are more vulnerable to exclusion in this regard, such as children with disabilities, children of a younger age and migrant, asylum-seeking and refugee children.

Measure
Measure type:
Training and capacity building
Responsible Ministries:
Ministry of Justice and Public SecurityMinistry of Labour and Social AffairsMinistry of Health and Care ServicesMinistry of Education and ResearchMinistry of Children and Families

The State party should ensure that relevant professionals are regularly trained on implementing an age-appropriate, meaningful and empowered participation of children in decisions affecting their lives and sensitizing parents to the positive impact of respecting the views of their children.

Measure
Measure type:
Practices and guidelines
Responsible Ministry:
Ministry of Justice and Public Security

The State party should strengthen the implementation of the child’s right to be heard in asylum and expulsion procedures affecting children, particularly with respect to younger children, and ensure that children are given the possibility to be heard individually in all instances in all cases affecting them.

Measure
Measure type:
Awareness-raising and dissemination
Responsible Ministry:
Ministry of Children and Families

The State party should ensure that children are informed about the possibility of participating in mediation processes in the context of their parents’ separation.

Measure
Measure type:
Practices and guidelines
Responsible Ministries:
Ministry of Local Government and ModernisationMinistry of Children and Families

The State party should increase its efforts to ensure the meaningful participation of children in youth councils or other forums accessible to all children in all municipalities, address disparities in this regard and consider requiring each municipality to make participation in such forums or other types of participative bodies available to children.