Welcome to the Policy Working Group!
An introduction video into the ICCRP's policy working group featuring Natasha Blanchet-Cohen, Holly Doel-Mackaway & Amy Cooper.
Who we are and what we do
The Policy Working Group is made up of many members who represent different disciplines, institutions, and regions of the world 鈥� all of whom are working in some way toward the realisation of children鈥檚 rights.
Co-leads of the Policy Working Group are Natasha Blanchet-Cohen (Concordia University, Canada) and Holly Doel-Mackaway (Macquarie University, Australia). Supporting the work is Amy Cooper a research assistant from Concordia University, Canada.
We are always looking to increase our membership and widen the diversity of membership. If you are interested in joining or learning more, please contact us here (opens in new window) .
Together, we hope to
- Advance research about how children and young people could influence and shape relevant law and policy surrounding children's rights.
- Explore possibilities for intergenerational partnerships related to children's rights that could inform legal and policy frameworks and advance the implementation of children's rights internationally.
- Analyse the data emerging from the (PDF file) ICCRP case studies (opens in new window) with the view to scan for best practices and identify opportunities for children's participation in legislative and policy reform.
Our guiding questions are
1. What are the body of laws and policies that seek to advance children鈥檚 rights? What are some key examples of child rights innovations?
2. What are the notable gaps in children鈥檚 rights law and policy? In what areas are these gaps most apparent? What are some key challenges?
3. How are children and young people participating in law and policy making, as well as in law and policy change, implementation and enforcement? If so, how?
4. What are the opportunities and conditions for laws and policies to be informed by young people about matters affecting them?
5. What are the opportunities for intergenerational relationships to transform legal and policy frameworks to advance the realization of children鈥檚 rights?
Resources
Intergenerational Partnerships in Law and Policy for Children's Rights: International Insights
An (PDF file) infographic (opens in new window) of key insights from the October 22, 2025 webinar 鈥淚ntergenerational partnerships in law and policy for children鈥檚 rights鈥� hosted by the Policy Working Group of the ICCRP. The webinar was moderated by Holly Doel-Mackaway (Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia) and featured panellists Messi Condori Mamanillo (Children and Adolescents Committee of Potos铆, Bolivia), Maria Belen Paz Aguilar (Learning for Well-being Foundation, Bolivia), Mona Par茅 (University of Ottawa, Canada), Albert Lalonde (Future Generations Tribunal), and Vicky Johnson (Centre for Living Sustainability, UHI Inverness, Scotland).
Also available in Spanish: (PDF file) Alianzas Intergeneracionales en Legislaci贸n y Pol铆ticas P煤blicas para los Derechos de los Ni帽os: Perspectivas Internacionales (opens in new window)
Intergenerational Partnerships in Law and Policy for Children's Rights
The Policy Working Group hosted a global conversation on how young people and adults work together to shape stronger laws and policies for children鈥檚 rights. The webinar brought together youth leaders, researchers, and practitioners from Bolivia, Canada, Scotland, and other regions who shared how they influence policy change through shared decision making and collective advocacy.
The session was organized by the ICCRP Policy Working Group and moderated by Holly Doel-Mackaway from Macquarie University. The discussion offered clear examples of intergenerational partnerships and practical steps to strengthen participation and rights-based work.
You can watch the full recording .
Insights from Young People as Change Makers in Law and Policy
An (PDF file) inforgraphic (opens in new window) developed from the November 19, 2024 webinar 鈥淵oung People鈥檚 Experiences as Change Makers in Law & Policy鈥� hosted by the Policy Working Group of the ICCRP with Samke Mnguni (Nelson Mandela Children鈥檚 Fund) and panelists Alexandre Levesque (Children鈥檚 Rights Impact Assessment, New Brunswick Child Advocate鈥檚 Office), Thandolwenkosi Nkosi (Nelson Mandela Children鈥檚 Fund), and Divya Sharma (Shaking the Movers Canada).
Young People鈥檚 Experiences as Change Makers in Law & Policy
Featuring youth participants connected to the ICCRP case studies, including the Nelson Mandela Children鈥檚 Fund, South Africa, New Brunswick Children鈥檚 Rights Impact Assessment project, and Shaking the Movers project across Canada. This 60-minute webinar surfaced insights, challenges, and innovative ideas from young people in law and policy work. This webinar was moderated by Natasha Blanchet-Cohen (Concordia University) and Samke Mnguni (Nelson Mandela Children鈥檚 Fund).
Advancing Children鈥檚 Rights through Law and Policy: Experiences from Brazil, Scotland, and South Africa (Article in Sociedad e Infancias, 2024)
This presents experiences of advancing children鈥檚 participation in law and policy in Brazil, Scotland and South Africa. It is based on a conversation that took place in a webinar hosted by the Policy Working Group of the International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership. Using duoethnography, we delve into three issues: (1) ways children participate in the development of child-related laws and policies; (2) the leverage points for navigating across well-entrenched power dynamics; and (3) reflections for progressing the children鈥檚 rights project forward.
Also
Advancing Children鈥檚 Rights through Law and Policy: Experiences from Brazil, Scotland, and South Africa
Enjoy this webinar "" hosted by the Policy Working Group in June 2024, this webinar featuring Irene Rizzini (Brazil), Rona Blackwood (Scotland), and Lucy Jamieson (South Africa) was a dynamic discussion that surfaced insightful examples, opportunities, and challenges in moving forward children鈥檚 participation and intergenerational relationships in policy and law.
(Re)Imagining children's participatory rights with decolonial learning鈥� (O Social em Quest茫o)
In the we suggest that participatory rights have been shaped by colonizing projects and suggest alternative ways of thinking and doing, by offering some probing questions designed to redirect and shape a (re)imagining of children鈥檚 participation. We explore the connection between children鈥檚 participation rights and three of the guiding principles of the convention: non-discrimination (article 2); best interests (article 3); and right to life, survival, and development (article 6).
Using law and policy for children鈥檚 rights
This 90-minute webinar aimed to explore innovative opportunities that lie at the crossroads of children鈥檚 rights, intergenerational participation, and policy work. Featuring an international panel of contributors including Elvis Fokala (Centre for Human Rights, Pretoria, South Africa), Terence Hamilton (Domestic Policy Specialist, UNICEF Canada), Fiona Morrison (University of Edinburg, Scotland), Holly Doel-Mackaway (Macquarie University, Australia), Natasha Blanchet-Cohen (Concordia University, Canada) and Amy Cooper (Concordia University).