How young people are shaping laws, lifting their voices, and leading real change.
In communities around the world, children’s parliaments are creating real pathways for children to participate in decisions that shape their lives. These spaces allow young people to learn about civic processes, raise concerns, and speak directly to decision-makers as informed and empowered participants.
What are children’s parliaments and why do they matter?
Children’s parliaments are structured forums that enable children to come together, learn about their rights, and engage in discussions about policies, services, and local issues. They put into practice Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): the right of children to express their views freely in all matters affecting them, and for those views to be given due weight.
These forums are particularly powerful in contexts where children’s voices are traditionally excluded. In many regions across South East Asia, for example, children from ethnic minorities or remote communities face barriers to health, education, and protection, and often grow up in environments where their input is not sought or valued. Children’s parliaments offer a safe, supportive space to change that.
The power of participation: Real stories from young leaders
Initiatives like Save the Children Australia’s Our Voice project have shown the tangible power of child participation in civic life. Created in the aftermath of the 2019–20 bushfires, Our Voice enabled children and young people to engage directly with emergency planning authorities. Their insights led to improved preparedness and response strategies, and helped shift how communities understand the needs of children during crises.
These experiences show that youth empowerment can lead to better-informed policies and more inclusive community planning. When children have the tools and the space to express themselves, they contribute meaningful solutions to real-world problems — whether it’s disaster recovery, education access, or public health.
Removing barriers to every child’s voice
Despite the growing visibility of children’s parliaments and youth-led initiatives, many children still face systemic barriers to participation. In South East Asia, access to basic services like education and healthcare can be limited by geography, poverty, or discrimination. Children from ethnic minority communities often lack citizenship or birth registration, excluding them from formal institutions.
Girls may face added cultural constraints, and boys may be at risk of being pulled into child labour or trafficking. In areas impacted by political instability or frequent natural disasters, children’s needs are often sidelined, and their voices go unheard.
Efforts to support children's rights advocacy must actively remove these barriers and ensure participation is inclusive and representative. That means reaching rural areas, offering translation and cultural support, and creating environments where all children feel safe to share their views.
How Save the Children supports young civic leaders
Save the Children has a long-standing commitment to child participation and to upholding children’s right to be heard. We work in Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines to help children access education, stay healthy, and grow up protected.
In Cambodia, Save the Children partners with government agencies to strengthen child protection systems. In Laos, the focus includes supporting ethnic minority women and children to access healthcare and improve family care practices. In the Philippines, children living in urban slums or areas affected by conflict are supported to access food, water, education and healthcare.
What ties these efforts together is a commitment to listening to children and helping them become leaders in their own lives and communities. Whether it’s participating in school safety planning, disaster preparedness, or community health initiatives, Save the Children encourages youth empowerment so that young people can advocate for children’s rights.
Why child-led advocacy leads to better outcomes
Children bring perspectives that adults often miss — particularly about how policies affect their everyday experiences. As UNCRC Article 12 outlines, children have the right to be taken seriously in matters that affect them, not just because it benefits them personally, but because it leads to smarter, more just decisions for everyone.
Children’s parliaments and similar structures allow young people to gain confidence, learn civic skills, and feel a sense of ownership over their future. They also build empathy and leadership, preparing them for future roles in community development, politics, and social change.
When adults listen to children, we strengthen communities. When systems are built to include children’s voices from the start, they’re better equipped to respond to real needs.
Where to next? The growing movement of child democracy
The movement to recognise and embed children’s voices is growing, and the momentum is building globally. From initiatives like Our Voice to school-based programs and formal children’s parliaments, more platforms are being created to ensure young people have influence.
But lasting change requires more than good intentions. Governments, educators, and communities must commit to structural reforms that embed children’s participation into everyday decision-making. That includes giving space to young people at the table when policies are shaped, budgets are allocated, and responses to crises are planned. Respecting children is a strategic imperative that enriches society and builds a more inclusive, empathetic and progressive future.
Get involved
If you believe in child participation in building a more inclusive world, there are many ways to help. Support organisations like Save the Children who launch initiatives like Our Voice, seek out and support children’s rights advocacy, or help spread awareness of UNCRC Article 12. Together, we can make sure every child has a voice, and that their voice is heard.