Children’s participation on policy level -> Reflection instrument Katrien Herbots The Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre Flanders (Belgium) Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre – Belfast June 2016

Overview I.Introduction II.(Co-)creating knowledge III. Implementation & monitoring by reflection IV.8 main components V.Your input VI.Contact information

Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre – Belfast Juni 2016 I. Introduction (1) The ‘complexity ‘ of children’s rights

I.Introduction (2) Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre - Operational since 1 January Funded by the Flemish government, Minister of Youth - Supporting institutions: University College Ghent (Social Work and Welfare Studies) KU Leuven (Law and Criminology) University of Antwerp (Law) Free University of Brussels (Criminology) Ghent University (Psychology and Educational sciences) Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre – Belfast June 2016

I. Introduction (3) Mission: research-based knowledge on childrens’ rights  Reflection & critical dialogue Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre – Belfast June 2016 gathering making available dissemi- nating stimulating

I. Introduction (4) Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre – Belfast June

I. Introduction (5) Building bridges between / activities directed towards: Academics from multiple disciplines Flemish government Key actors in youth and children’s rights fields

Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre – Belfast June 2016 I.Introduction (6) Working principles – Research-based – Interdisciplinary – Critical-emancipatory reflection – Dynamic use of knowledge Gathering & sharing Brokering (Co-)creating

Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre – Belfast June 2016 II. (Co-)creating knowledge Interdisciplinary cooperation between researchers Functional research In house training and consultancy Policy advice – On its own initiative – At the request of the Flemish government …

Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre – Belfast June 2016 III. Implementation & monitoring by reflection (1) Policy advice 2015/4 – Participation of children in policymaking – At the request of Youth Department of the Flemish government State of the art of inspiring cases Prerequisites children’s participation in policymaking Reflection-tool – Ex ante – during – ex-post – Based on literature & refined by interviews with 7 key-actors – Advice KeKi : implementation & monitoring CR through reflection

Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre – Belfast June 2016 III. Implementation & monitoring by reflection (2) Policy advice 2016 – empirical testing of the reflection- tool – Interview with 9 key-actors Some of them also involved in 2015 Involving other policy domains (e.g. education, minorities, local policy…) – Refining reflection-tool Reducing & reformulating questions Restructuring phases of participation in policymaking – Tool + Manual – Ongoing

Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre – Belfast June 2016 IV. 8 main components Content – what do we want to know? Target group – who do you want to reach? Children in vulnerable situations – exclusive and/or inclusive? Aim – what do you want to achieve? Trajectory – how is the participation set up? Implementation in policy – to what extent are views translated in policy? Feedback – how? when? to whom?... Evaluation – on the level of policymakers & participants

Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre – Belfast June 2016 V. Your input Implementation through reflection: – Useful? – Experience? – Examples? – (Dis)advantages? – … Tips for formatting? Other thoughts or comments?

Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre – Belfast June 2016 Thank you on behalf of KeKi!

Children’s Rights Knowledge Centre – Belfast June 2016 VI. Contact Operational address Valentin Vaerwijckweg GENT BELGIUM Tel. +32 (0) Skype: InfoKeki