Children’s right to participate in child and youth welfare

The participation of children and adolescents in child and youth welfare is recognized as a fundamental element in promoting autonomy and children’s rights. Despite legal and ethical foundations, particularly Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, practical implementation often remains limited. This study provides a critical analysis of the current research on participation in child and youth welfare. Key questions include the definition of the concept of participation, challenges in implementation, and potential approaches for improvement. The findings reveal that structural barriers such as resource shortages, high workloads, and a lack of institutionalized participation mechanisms hinder effective involvement. Furthermore, the tension between participation and child protection often leads professionals to make paternalistic decisions rather than enabling genuine co-determination for children. The results highlight the need for a paradigm shift towards an organizational culture that fosters participation.