Affecting these changes in how adults think about children does not mean that adults are absolved of their responsibilities towards children, nor does it mean that children should be left alone to fight for their rights. Rather, what is asked for by the Convention is that adults ‘learn to work more closely with children to help them articulate their lives, to develop strategies for change and exercise their rights.’2 Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child. 2. For this purpose the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law. As becomes clear from discussions with adults conducted for this report, many adults mistakenly assume that providing children with these rights means giving them the right to autonomy or bestowing on them complete control over all decisions that affect their lives whatever the consequences maybe. Children’s right to participation enshrined in the UNCRC recognises: All children are capable expressing a view not matter how young they are and even if they cannot express those views through speech; Adults need to provide children with the opportunity and the encouragement to express these rights freely; These rights extend to all actions and decisions that affect children’s lives whether within the family, school, the wider community or at the national political level; It is not sufficient to simply listen to children’s views, the right extends to having their views taken seriously; and that Weight must be given to children’s needs that reflect their level of understanding of the issues involved. 2 Ibid. 4