Reflection on the Implementation of Children's Participation Rights (Based on Lundy's Participation Model)

Abstract

Child participation is the involvement of children in actions and decision-making processes regarding issues that affect their lives. This study reflects the results of a study on the implementation of children's participation rights, based on four meaningful elements of participation based on the Lundy model, including Voice, Space, Influence, and Audience (Lundy, 2007). So far, studies on participation have focused on the space and forms of child participation. The research used a qualitative approach with the case of the Children's Forum in East Jakarta. The main informants of the research were the members of the Children's Forum. Based on the findings in the field, the practice of children's participation puts forward the provision of spaces for participation and the expression of children's voices, while the government has not provided a mechanism to follow up on children's voices. Children have been allowed to speak out in public spaces, but the follow-up and impact of children's involvement remain minimal so that children have not enjoyed the impact of participation as expected by children. This finding illustrates that the government and society in general still view children as individuals who cannot yet be involved and do not have the capacity for the decision-making process in the public space.