Involving children in global health policy and programming: practical guidance to get started

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Child Rights
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Children face increasing health threats from non-communicable diseases and mental health issues.
• Commercial determinants of health and climate change exacerbate these risks.
• Children's right to participation in global health is often overlooked.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for greater child involvement in global health initiatives.
• To establish principles for meaningful child participation.
• To provide practical recommendations for engaging children in policy development.

Main Methods:

• Review of children's right to participation under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Development of five guiding principles for child engagement.
• Case study of the Youth Advisory Board within the Children in All Policies 2030 initiative.

Main Results:

• Five principles for child engagement: respect for rights, safety, age-appropriateness, inclusivity, and accountability.
• Practical recommendations derived from the Youth Advisory Board experience.
• Demonstrated benefits of child participation for organizations and outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Meaningful engagement with children is crucial for effective global health initiatives.
• Implementing structured principles ensures ethical and impactful child participation.
• Involving children enhances policy relevance, organizational effectiveness, and child well-being.