Peruvian Children and Adolescents Advisory Council

In the framework of the XX Pan American Child Congress was held from 21-25 September, in Lima, Peru, the First Children and Adolescents Pan American Forum with the participation of 61 children from 22 OAS Member States. The Forum was a multicultural space for the participation of children and adolescents, where they expressed their opinions in dialogue groups, they experienced different forms of expression in creative-expressive spaces, and shared traditions, histories and knowledge.
 
Towards the end, the delegations presented their experiences on participation in dialogue groups. In this context and following the experiences of children advisory councils and similar bodies presented by some Member States, several representatives expressed their interest in developing the same type of advisory bodies in their countries.

Thus, one of the recommendations of the First Pan American Forum included the establishment of advisory councils at a local, regional and inter-American level, in the words of the adolescents:

"Local, regional, national and inter-American advisory councils should be developed so as to incorporate the words, opinions, needs and proposals of children and adolescents including those with special strengths and needs, in the construction and implementation of public policies to be carried out by the highest-ranking authorities. "

Peru was the first country to carry out this experience and other countries in the region have proposed to implement it. The Peruvian Children and Adolescents Advisory Council was created by Ministerial Resolution No. 355-2009-MIMDES and works within the Directorate of Children and Adolescents of the General Department of Family and Community of MIMDES, and will be integrated by twelve children and adolescents aged between twelve and seventeen, who were elected through a democratic process, through nationwide organized spaces of children and adolescents.

Among other things, the Council shall advise on matters in relation to public policies on children and adolescents, submit proposals and support mechanisms for monitoring the Comprehensive Care System for Children and Adolescents. It is important to point out that all the recommendations of this Council are legally binding, that means that they will not be considered as simple proposals, but as obligatory.