On April 1, 2021, the National Commission for the Promotion of the Rights and the Protection of Children and Young People (CNPDPCJ) launched a new national project aimed at strengthening the right of the child to participate, which encompasses the implementation of the Council of Europe Child Participation Assessment Tool (CPAT), and the elaboration of the White Paper on Child Participation in Portugal, based on the results achieved through the application of the CPAT.
This national project is integrated in the new EU-CoE joint Project “CP4EUROPE - Strengthening National Child Participation Frameworks and Action in Europe”, in a consortium financed by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020) and the Council of Europe. The latter coordinates the consortium that includes its Partners from the Czech Republic, Finland, Iceland, Portugal (represented by the CNPCPCJ) and Slovenia, which will implement it at the national level until March 31, 2023.
The main objective of CP4EUROPE is to increase the means, the spaces and the opportunities for child participation in EU and Council of Europe member states, and to support national activities through pan-European action and visibility. The project will promote, in particular, the use of the Council of Europe Child Participation Tool (CPAT) and the new Handbook on Children’s Participation “Listen – Act – Change”, as specific tools in this area, and support the development of new (model) tools through national action.
Concrete and tailor-made action will be taken at national level via the Partners of the project in two Action Groups; respectively undertaking child participation assessments via the CPAT and improving national frameworks further as a follow-up to a recent assessment carried out in 2019/2020.
Concrete and tailor-made action will be taken at national level via the Partners of the project in two Action Groups; respectively undertaking child participation assessments via the CPAT and improving national frameworks further as a follow-up to a recent assessment carried out in 2019/2020.
The key expected results of the overall project will also include the creation a “Child participation leadership network” among participating countries, and a new webpage to facilitate the sharing of resources and experiences. The Council of Europe Children’s Right Division will coordinate the project and develop European resources and activities that will benefit all partner countries, and all EU and Council of Europe member states in the long-term.
For inquiries, please contact CNPDPCJ.presidencia@cnpdpcj.pt
This project is funded by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020) and the Council of Europe. This communication represents the views of the CNPDPCJ only and is of its sole responsibility. The European Commission does not accept any responsibility for the use that may be made of the information conveyed.
