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What Does Child Empowerment Mean Today?

Implications for Education and Well-being

image of What Does Child Empowerment Mean Today?

Childhood is changing in ways that we are still unpacking, affected by digitalization, globalization and climate change, as well as shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In many OECD education systems, child empowerment is increasingly an explicit aim of policies and practices. But it is often poorly defined, which risks turning it into a mere slogan. With the advancement of children’s rights, children are increasingly being included as stakeholders in decision-making processes. This report gives examples of how children in OECD countries can and do participate in making decisions about issues that affect them. The report examines children's emotional well-being and physical activity, and the role of schools as a physical space to create and support relationships. It also underlines the untapped potential of media education when it comes to seizing opportunities in childhood. Empowering all children to make the most of digital opportunities starts with further narrowing the gap in terms of access to digital tools and the Internet, where inequalities are persistent and pervasive. So, what does child empowerment mean today? Empowered children have the opportunity and ability to act on issues important and relevant to them, can learn by making mistakes, and are key contributors to democracy.

English

Perspectives on child empowerment

This chapter presents perspectives on child empowerment from diverse authors in different countries. They were invited to contribute short opinion pieces on what child empowerment means to them, based on their respective policy, research or practice contexts. This chapter weaves a narrative of these different perspectives, highlighting similarities and differences among the diverse responses. It concludes by reiterating a common finding that is presented throughout this publication: Child empowerment requires adults to break traditional silos, and to work with a range of actors including children who should be seen as key stakeholders in these discussions. Effective policy and practice requires a multi-sectoral and multistakeholder approach.

English

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