Claire O'Kane – last position as Child Rights and Participation Adviser, Save the Children, currently freelancing on child rights, protection, participation work, Myanmar/Burma

I have been involved in work supporting children’s participation and citizenship since 1995, especially in the Asia region. I have especially appreciated the ongoing commitment of CWC to empower working children and to find integrated ways to support the participation of all children in local governance processes which increase the accountability of State and local government actors to children. CWC are pioneering in their work, and are effective in documenting and disseminating the lessons learned to inspire and inform other children’s organisations, CBOs, NGOs, and INGOs within and beyond the Asia region. The journey of learning and inspiration continues and all of us need to continue collaboration to ensure that all children, especially the most marginalised children, including children with disabilities get space and opportunities to express their views and to be heard within their families, work places, schools, communities, in local and national governance. We need to continue to advocate that Governments take responsibility to put in place mechanisms and to support processes that allow the realisation of children’s civil and political rights, so that more and more girls and boys can safely and pro-actively be active citizens.

Congratulations and very very warmest greetings.