1. Children’s Participation in the Lanzarote Convention
Helen Veitch, Oak Fellow on Children’s Participation in Preventing Sexual Violence

2. Why I am here…
To explore the issue of children’s participation in the implementation of the Lanzarote Convention
To identify challenges and opportunities
To collate examples of children’s participation
To gauge the interest in children’s participation
To identify individuals who can act as ambassadors for children’s participation in the Convention

3. Oak Fellow on Children’s Participation in Preventing Sexual Violence
Collaboration between the International Centre on researching child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking and the Oak Foundation.
Purpose: to initiate and support efforts by children and young people to prevent sexual violence against children.
supporting (emerging) work to ensure children’s participation becomes a stronger force;
connecting to emerging global initiatives developed by others;
Oak Fellow on Children’s Participation in Preventing Sexual Violence
Collaboration between Bedfordshire University’s International Centre on researching child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking and the Oak Foundation.
Advisor to the International Centre and Oak Foundation’s Child Abuse Team.
Purpose: to initiate and support efforts by children and young people to prevent sexual violence against children.
Achieved by:
- supporting (emerging) work to ensure that children’s participation becomes a stronger force within efforts to end sexual violence to children;
- connecting to emerging global initiatives developed by others;
- taking a leadership role in the international representation of the voice of young people within work on preventing sexual violence against children;

4. The International Centre
Committed to increasing understanding of, and improving responses to child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking in local, national and international contexts.
Achieved through:
academic rigour and research excellence
collaborative and partnership based approaches to applied social research
meaningful and ethical engagement of children and young people
Committed to increasing understanding of, and improving responses to child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking in local, national and international contexts.
Achieved through:
academic rigour and research excellence
collaborative and partnership based approaches to applied social research
meaningful and ethical engagement of children and young people

5. The Oak Foundation www.oakfnd.org
Private family foundation addressing issues of global social and environmental concern that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged with programmes on women's rights, the environment, human rights, homelessness and child abuse.
My role: strengthen the Child Abuse Programme’s work on children’s participation, current focus E Europe and E. Africa
Exploratory phase to look at children’s involvement in the monitoring activities of the Lanzarote Convention.
Lanzarote Convention viewed as a landmark convention that presents a unique opportunity to pioneer children’s participation in its implementation. The Oak Foundation is interested in helping to make this a reality.
The Oak Foundation is a Private family foundation which commits its resources to address issues of global social and environmental concern, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged. It has several programmes that support a variety of organisations working on women's rights, the environment, human rights, homelessness and child abuse.
I am working with the Child Abuse Programme to strengthen its work in Eastern Europe and East Africa on children's participation and am looking to develop projects that initiate and support efforts by children and young people to prevent sexual violence against children.
At this early stage in my work I am in an exploratory phase and consequently, in Europe I am exploring the idea of children’s involvement in the implementation and monitoring of the Lanzarote Convention.
At this early stage, also, I cannot make any promises on behalf of the Oak Foundation regarding funding (as an advisor to the Foundation this decision would not be up to me) – however I can state that the Foundation along with many others view the Lanzarote Convention as a landmark convention that presents a unique opportunity to pioneer children’s participation in its implementation. And the Foundation is interested in helping to make this a reality.
Additional info: if someone is interested - not necessary to be mentioned:
 - The resources of Oak Foundation originates from an interest in the Duty Free Shoppers business which Alan Parkers (founder of Oak) helped to build. Today, the foundation comprises a group of philanthropic organisaiions based in various countries around the world (Geneva - headquarters, offices in 8 other countries - the UK. USA, Denmark, Bulgaria, India, Tanzania, Belize, Zimbabwe).

6. Children’s Participation is…
"the process of sharing decisions which affect one’s life and the life of the community in which one lives. It is a means by which democracy is built and it is a standard against which democracies should be measured."
There is no need for me to go into what children’s participation means…this has been explored already.
From Roger Hart who is considered the father of children’s participation
Roger Hart, 1992,

7. For sexually exploited children…
“…the primary concern is about protecting [them] from society rather than considering the opportunities for them to participate in it”
A key challenge for me and for you as the Lanzarote Committee is how to involve child ‘victims’ or ‘survivors’ in participatory activities. This quote from an academic at Sheffield University highlights the key concern:
That for sexually exploited children the primary concern is about protecting them from society rather than considering the opportunities for them to participate in it.
Children and young people affected by sexual violence – particularly those who might be perceived as ‘difficult’ – are routinely disbelieved, ignored, silenced and blamed.
Young people are often perceived and categorised as either ‘victims’ or ‘agents of change’, but rarely both.
This means that those who have experienced different forms of sexual violence – ‘victims’ – are often not included in decisions about their own needs and futures, or discussions about how to help or improve responses for others.
This is why I’m focusing my presentation on participatory work with this group of children.
And as you will see from the next quote, there is increasing experience and a growing expertise of how to involve children who have been directly affected by sexual abuse or exploitation in decision-making processes.
Afua Twum Danso, 2005

8. From sexually exploitation children…
“Before, I saw what I had been through as a weakness – a horrible part of my life. Well it is still a horrible part but now I can use my experiences for good….. I’ve gone from the person who is coming here to ask for help for me, to someone who’s coming to help other young people.”
From Maisy, 18
“Before, I saw what I had been through as a weakness – a horrible part of my life. Well it is still a horrible part but now I can use my experiences for good….. I’ve gone from the person who is coming here to ask for help for me, to someone who’s coming to help other young people.”
This quote shows how the participation of children who have experienced sexual abuse or exploitation can be an empowering process… and Research indicates that when young people affected by sexual violence engage in activities that aim to raise awareness or improve the situation for other young people, this can have a therapeutic impact.   
Maisy, 18, in AYPH Be Healthy, 2013

9. Learning from participatory activities with children to address sexual violence
Over the last 5 years the international centre has run a number of activities with children and young people who have direct experience of sexual violence. Last year a colloquium was organised that specifically focused on the ethical considerations of involving children affected by sexual violence.
Participatory work with children affected by sexual violence requires….
Working through strong partnerships with providers of direct support to children
Good risk management (so assessing and predicting risks but not being risk averse – for example - the potential for young people to experience distress alone isn’t a reason not to include them)
Avoiding undue paternalism – recognising young people’s strengths and abilities to engage with this type of work
Supporting children’s own learning about sexual violence - moving from their expertise rooted as an individual to representing others.
Offering a range of opportunities for children - small numbers of children are likely to be very active – whereas much larger numbers of children may want to contribute to consultations or surveys
Protecting children’s anonymity but acknowledging their contributions - a one size fits all approach does not work – fundamentally this is about supporting individuals to make informed choices – some young people are ready to publically identify as ‘victims’ or ‘survivors’ and this is a strategic, considered choice of theirs
Being honest and realistic with children about what influence they will (and won’t have) - this can be achieved by being very clear with children about the limits of their power to influence
Preparing professionals for listening and meaningful dialogue - preparation of adult professionals (such as service providers and policy makers) is key when you are trying to create meaningful dialogue between children and adults. Although both groups need preparation it is often the preparation of adults to adapt to a children-friendly process, that is neglected.
Working through strong partnerships with providers of direct support to children
Good risk management
Avoiding undue paternalism
Supporting children’s own learning about sexual violence
Offering a range of opportunities for children
Protecting children’s anonymity but acknowledging their contributions
Being honest and realistic with children about what influence they will (and won’t have)
Preparing professionals for listening and meaningful dialogue

10. EXAMPLE 1: Making Justice Work
I would like to highlight 2 examples of how children who have experienced sexual violence have been involved in participatory activities
The first Relates to Article 30 of LC ‘Best interest of the child in investigations and criminal proceedings’
It is a project called Making Justice Work, it was research that focused on criminal justice for children and young people affected by sexual exploitation as victims and witnesses
a 16 month participatory research project in the UK which collaborated with nine young people who were ‘experts by experience’ aged 13 – 19 years old. The term ‘experts by experience’ means that the young people were ‘victims’ or ‘survivors’ of sexual violence (and for this research had connections with the criminal justice system) and this experience has given them a particular insight and expertise.
Research focused on key issues that young people had identified:
The need for a justice system that is appropriate to victims of child sexual exploitation and does not result in the re-traumatisation of those brave enough to go through it.
Better approaches to policing which ensure that when young people make disclosures, or provide evidence to the police, they are believed and kept safe.
Used workshops, mapping activities, focus groups and solution focused dialogue events with practitioners and policy makers to explore opportunities for change in the justice system
All young people were accessed through and supported by specialist practitioners.
Participants have gone on to set up a peer support initiative for young people affected by sexual exploitation who go through the justice system and participants are now advising the International Centre on its research and policy work on child protection policing.
Feedback from all young people was incredibly positive about the experience – it was seen as contributing to their recovery and moving on from abuse.
Participatory research in the UK: collaborated with nine ‘experts by experience’ (13 – 19 years) over 16 months on data collection; analysis and dissemination
Used workshops, mapping activities, focus groups and solution focused dialogue events with practitioners and policy makers to explore opportunities for change in justice system
All young people accessed through and supported by specialist practitioners.
Participants gone on to set up a peer support initiative for young people affected by CSE who go through justice system

11. Film produced by young people
This 1 minute film was developed by young people in one afternoon using imovie.
I wanted to mention a few policy changes that have been initiated based on the involvement of children in MJW – there have been no legislative changes but a few notable actions as a direct result of the research
i) the College of Policing have made the research report required reading
ii) the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland are using the findings as a base to help review and develop their criminal justice processes for child sexual exploitation cases
iii) Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary invited the IC to do further research with children and young people as part of their child protection inspections – having never previously involved young people in this process

12. EXAMPLE 2: Our Voices - consulting with young people in Albania, Bulgaria and UK
47 children and young people consulted who have been affected by sexual violence
What are the issues around sexual violence in their communities?
What are the barriers and challenges to young people talking about sexual violence and accessing support?
What should be done to stop sexual violence?
How could young people be more involved in preventing sexual violence?
Our Voices – where young people were consulted in Albania, Bulgaria and the UK
47 children and young people consulted who have been affected by sexual violence, youngest was 11, oldest was 25 – 5 of them were boys
They explored questions such as
What are the issues around sexual violence in their communities?
What are the barriers and challenges to young people talking about sexual violence and accessing support?
What should be done to stop sexual violence?
How could young people be more involved in preventing sexual violence? I want to highlight this question as it doesn’t get asked very often but it is a key part of my job as Oak Fellow.

13. How and why involve young people?
How young people could be more involved in preventing sexual violence?
Why should young people be involved?
What are the barriers in getting young people involved?
How can we help more young people get involved?
In terms of How YP could be more involved they said children could be…
Involved in campaigns, events, distributing resources, talking about sexual violence to other young people and being ‘ambassadors’, volunteering for services and supporting others.
When asked Why should young people be involved they said…
They talk the same language, they accept things, they know more about what’s happening.
When asked what the Barriers are to getting involved
If too much time was involved
If it meant re-living experiences and being traumatised
If they were scared about the perpetrators finding out
If there were not enough resources or incentives
If it caused stigma and embarrassment
If the work was boring or solitary
If it wasn’t organised and official
When asked How can we help more young people get involved, they said…
Give examples of how other young people have been involved, offer training opportunities, provide incentives, think about the language that you use, make it fun, make it safe and comfortable for young people to be involved

14. Taking action… To be completed by the Lanzarote Committee Members…
I hope I’ve shown that children’s participation with those who have experienced sexual violence is of value and is possible.
I am in the fortunate position of being an advisor to a funding agency who are interested in supporting children’s participation in the implementation and monitoring of the Lanzarote Convention….

15. For more information and resources visit our website www.beds.ac.uk/ic
@uniofbedscse