Children’s participation in local governance in Greece: Child and youth council members’ views and experiences

Abstract

Child participation in civic life constitutes a fundamental children’s right. This qualitative study, conducting 10 focus groups, examined the views and experiences of children, adolescents and young people in Greece about the right of the child to participate in local governance. The findings show that despite the value placed on children’s right to participate in local decision-making processes, a series of obstacles, most saliently institutional and cultural barriers as well as issues of discrimination and social exclusion of specific child groups, were identified obstructing full realization of this right. Ways to promote, strengthen and implement meaningful child participation are discussed.