Child participation in local governance

This chapter contains reflections on the literature and practice of child participation in local governance, with a focus on selected aspects such as the legal framework for child participation at local level, and the constraints and opportunities this raises. I look briefly at how children participate in local governance and then offer three examples of different types of engagement with local authorities, ranging from highly structured (from within the government structures) to informal (from outside of the governance mechanism). Factors facilitating and hindering participation will be discussed, with more focused attention being given to the role of the adults and the sustainability of participation in local governance.