Political representatives' experiences of child participation in decision‐making processes: A qualitative interview study

This study interviewed seven Swedish politicians from four municipalities about their experiences with involving children and young people in local decision-making. While politicians reported using various methods to include children in decisions that affect them, these practices were not formally organized within their organizations. The research highlights that more structured approaches are needed to ensure children can meaningfully participate in municipal governance.

Key points

• Politicians had some experiences with child participation methods
• Methods for involving children were not formalized within organizations
• Work remains to ensure children's participation in decisions concerning them
• Further research needed on implementing UNCRC at municipal level

Limitations

This is a small qualitative study (n=7) from four Swedish municipalities, so findings may not generalize to other contexts or countries. The study captures politicians' perceptions of child participation rather than assessing actual child experiences or outcomes of participation.