Abstract

RUIZ-JARQUIN, Irene. Giving Minors a Voice in Decision-Making in this Day and Age. Espiga [online]. 2022, vol.21, n.44, pp.70-99. ISSN 2215-454X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.22458/re.v21i44.4384.

Promoting minors’ rights to be heard and be part of decision-making in each of their contexts, which leads to the formation of more democratic and egalitarian societies, is the main objective of this text. The essay reviews the agreements established in national and international legal documents, and the work carried out through different Costa Rican organizations and society in general to guarantee compliance with this right. As a result, there is an evident need to raise awareness about the importance of strengthening, leading and promoting spaces where minors have a voice and feel safe and empowered to dialogue about the various issues that affect their daily lives; in other words, age should not influence the rights of each person, rather their opinions should be respected and analyzed for decision-making in each society. Therefore, children’s right to be heard in decision-making requires considering conditions beyond the age or maturity of each person to participate, decide or express an opinion. This should be implemented from an early age, in the first place observing how minors currently participate, whether in their families, in their schools, in their communities or with their friends, many times with technology as a mediator, so that greater possibilities and better ways to promote it are discovered.

Keywords : Democracy; human rights; childhood; social participation; decision-making.

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