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26 J. Pol. Stud. 1 (2019)

handle is hein.journals/jlo26 and id is 1 raw text is: Journal of Political Studies, Vol. 26, Issue - 1, 2019, 01:17 Implementation of Child Right to Participation under UN Convention: Myth and Reality Haroon Rafique Abstract The landmark United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) introduced 'unique' provision of the right to child participation in its Article 12. This Convention, ratified by most states including Pakistan, gives right of participation to children in making decisions on matters related to them and makes it binding for the states to implement it in letter and spirit. The state is responsible for creating enabling environment which includes creation of necessary institutions, enacting or where necessary amending laws, formulating policies and strategies, allocating sufficient budgets, making congenial environment for NGOs and public consultations. This paper argues that state in Pakistan has not been able to sufficiently develop the enabling environment to fulfill the obligations that resulted in the aftermath of ratification UNCRC. Keywords: Child Participation, UNCRC, Policy and Institutional role of government, Implementation Introduction The 'traditional' societies do not generally consider it necessary and significant for children to speak in matters related to them as compared to the need for continuous welfare and protection of adults for them. They were understood, especially prior to the adoption of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1989, as passive, powerless and uninfluential objects who were vulnerable and hence required welfare and protection of adults (Parkes, 2013). Therefore, they were marginalized in public discourse and were never expected to play any role in the process that determines policies affecting them because they cannot organize themselves politically (Rayner, 1991). According to traditional views children are supposed to live under the constant control and supervision of adults and they are not regarded as capable of making independent decisions for themselves and hence are not in a position to consciously participate in decision making process (Harris-Short, 2003; Such & Walker, 2005). Traditional societies also believe that children have responsibilities towards their families and parents which, according to them, are more important than any right to participation (Toope, 1996). Due to historically sub ordinate position of children in society all the child specific laws and policies are typically formulated by adults who think they know what is best for children (Goode, 1986; Mayall, 2000). *Author is public policy expert, Government of Pakistan.

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