Child participation stands as the first thematic area of the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, which states that EU action should ‘empower children to be active citizens and members of democratic societies’. Promoting meaningful participation of children with a parent in prison ensures their influence in key decisions that affect their lives, enables their effective and sustainable protection and reduces stigma.
Despite its importance, the gap between what professionals think about child participation and how systems actually operate persists, leaving decision-makers often overlooking children’s perspectives in critical matters like prison visitation policies or parental release decisions. This discord underscores the systemic failure to acknowledge children’s agency and needs.
But within these barriers lie opportunities for progress. This COPE report delves into the various barriers hindering child participation for children impacted by parental imprisonment, promoting a comprehensive understanding of these challenges for anyone seeking to engage in child participation, while exploring innovative opportunities to surmount them.