Promote youth participation in designing public policies (ES0070)

What is the problem/need that is desired to resolve with the commitment? The participation of boys and girls is recognised in the Convention on Children's Rights, approved by the United Nations General Assembly of 20 November 1989 and ratified by the General Courts of the State on 30 November 1990 (published in official gazette no. 313 of 31 December 1990). The aforementioned Convention has transformed the way in which childhood is considered and treated around the world. It has stopped only being considered as a subject of protection and children are now recognised as subjects of rights, specifically, the right to recognise their social protagonism and their rights as citizens, including their right to citizen participation. In addition, the Citizen Participation Regulation of the Murcia Region approved by Decree no. 187/2018 of 12 September has various provisions to foster this participation. For that reason, it has become necessary to advance in recognising these rights in the Regional scope, and to promote public policies that cover the perspective of childhood and provide formal channels of democratic participation in those matters that directly affect them. The purpose is to make a reality the right of children and teens to participate, so that in recognition of the capacity as an active citizen, they can express their opinions, needs and concerns about those matters that affect them and thus be able to participate in making decisions and designing public policies.

Objectives of the commitment To promote child and youth participation in designing public policies, promoting their role as active citizens and agents of change in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Brief description of the commitment Measures to reach the objective indicated will be articulated, the most notable of which are as follows: ‐Holding workshops with child participation regarding their role as agents of change in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. More specifically, as actions to promote by the Directorate General of Open Government and Cooperation, in collaboration with UNICEF: ‐Participation of the Regional Administration through the Directorate General of Open Government and Cooperation and in collaboration with UNICEF in the 2nd Regional Meeting of Municipal Councils on Child and Teen Participation, which will revolve around the role as agents of change in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. ‐Holding an online Workshop on the 2030 Agenda directed towards boys and girls who form part of child and teen participation bodies of the Murcia Region, so that they can know more in depth the SDGs and they can determine their role as agents of change in the implementation of the Agenda, that is, as the promoter group, they carry out proposals and suggestions in this field, for holding the Meeting of Councils of Child Participation and the next creation of the Council of child and teen participation at the autonomous region level. ‐In addition, it will promote workshops to participate in the design and evaluation of the public policies that are the competence of the Directorate General of Open Government and Cooperation: cooperation in the development or 160 in topics of open government: participation, transparency. As an example, workshops that allow their participation to determine what information that is the subject of active advertising is of most interest to them. ‐Creation of a space on the participation platform for children with information that may be of interest to them, and which is always reader‐friendly, or in audiovisual format (Kids' Corner) or the possibility to ask queries regarding matters that are of interest to them. All of that is in collaboration with the Ministry that is competent in the field of Childhood. ‐ Educational programmes directed towards training in participation (Open Government Educational Programme) in collaboration with the competent Ministry in the field of Education. ‐Regulation of the Council of Childhood and Youth Participation of the Murcia Regional Government.

How does the commitment contribute to solve the problem or cover the need? By articulating measures that promote participation and especially, by institutionalising child and youth participation through the creation of a collegiate body of citizen participation exclusively comprising children, the desired objective is achieved: guaranteeing the participation of children in the public affairs of interest to them. In addition, it reinforces their dimension as active citizens and their role as agents of change in society.

Why is the commitment relevant with respect to the values of Open Government? The proposal presented promotes, strengthens and improves the quality of participation in the public management, allowing the children to participate in making public decisions with the objective of achieving better results. It promotes their dimension as active citizens. In addition, it allows raising awareness and educating about values of open government to the child and youth population, by guaranteeing access to the information of interest to them, to participate in topics that affect them and in the design of public policies for which they are the beneficiaries.

Additional information The institutionalisation of participation in this sector of the population will require regulation through the Decree of the Governing Council, a regional council of child and youth participation.

Activities of the commitment Start date End date 2nd Regional Meeting of Municipal Councils of Child and Teen Participation with workshops about the role of children as agents of change in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda Exact date to be determined November 2020 November 2020 Online workshop on the 2030 Agenda Exact date to be determined October 2020 October 2020 Educational programmes on Open Government Academic year September 2020 June 2021 Creation of the Kids' Corner on the participation Website of the Murcia Regional Government December 2020 March 2021 Regulation of the Regional Council of Child and Youth Cooperation through Decree November 2020 November 2021