Norway ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on 8 January 1991. All countries that have ratified the Convention undertake to report to the UN on their compliance every five years. Norway´s fourth report was delivered in spring 2008. As part of that report the Ministry of Children and Equality wished to communicate children and young people´s views on growing up in Norway, seen in relation to some articles of the UN Convention. NOVA was asked to provide guidance for the project and to present the results in an overall report.
Children and young people were asked questions such as: Have you heard of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child? Do children have rights at home, at school and in the wider society? Are you happy at school? Have you been subjected to unfair treatment or discrimination? Do you know who to contact if you need help with a health problem? Information was obtained from a total of 1,274 children and young people. NOVA´s report on children and young people´s views on their rights was annexed to Norway´s official report to the UN.
Read the summary of the report here
NOVA Report 2b/08 (download full text)
Children and young people report to the UN on their rights.
Annex to Norway´s fourth report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Mona Sandbæk & Jóna Hafdis Einarsson
For more information contact Mona Sandbæk
More alternative reports with the participation of children:
Unicef Report: What Do You Think? (2002) Alternative country report: Belgium - Thousands of children gave their ideas and opinions towards the report and involved at every stage, from designing the logo, to developing research methods and deciding how the report would be formatted.
Coalición contra la vinculación de niños, niñas y jóvenes al conflicto armado en Colombia Report (2005) Alternative country report: Colombia - Report gathered with children's opinions, interviews and suggestions.
National Council for Children - Denmark Youth Report (2005)
Children’s Group to Send Our Voices to the CRC: Japan (2004)