A/HRC/31/33 42. Most countries currently provide few opportunities for the public to participate in budget processes.32 Children in particular have difficulty in this respect, in a situation that is often attributable to a lack of political will and a paternalistic vision of the place of children in society.33 43. There are many mechanisms by which States can ensure that children and young people are able to participate in budgetary processes. According to information submitted to OHCHR, one of the most popular is the development of children’s parliaments, which serve as a platform for children to voice their views and provide an opportunity for them to develop their skills in political participation and governance. In India, for example, children’s parliaments are a forum in which children can campaign for greater resource allocation to the fulfilment of child rights. Children are organized on the basis of their neighbourhood, forming neighbourhood parliaments, which are federated at various government levels.34 44. The validity and effectiveness of children’s parliaments, and indeed all participatory mechanisms, depends on whether they are representative, inclusive and accountable to their child constituencies, and whether their opinions are taken seriously. In Senegal, for example, the children’s parliament is authorized to issue an “advisory opinion” to the Government on problems relating to children. Public officials and other decision-makers engaging with children must also provide timely and user-friendly feedback to children on how and whether their recommendations have been taken on board. In Zimbabwe, the children’s parliament has consistently ensured that the opinions of children have been heard directly by adult parliamentarians. In 2009, for instance, the children’s parliament secured the assurance of the Vice-President that the Government was committed to realizing children’s right to education, despite budget constraints. 35 45. To support children’s engagement and to represent the concept at different levels of government, some countries have appointed child-friendly focal points or units at the municipal and national levels, such as in the case of a number of municipalities in Nicaragua.36 Similarly, in Sri Lanka, the national agenda on child rights governance (see para. 32 above) also includes commitments to appoint child rights governance focal points within the Ministries of Education, Health, Justice, Labour Relations and Social Services. 46. Although, as stated above, many essential services for children are coordinated and allocated at the subnational level, States must, however, ensure the involvement of children and young people in decision-making at all levels of government. An example of good practice can be seen in the project for “child-friendly cities” (CFC) in Spain, which promotes the rights of the child by creating a child-friendly and participative urban setting. Towns, cities or regions are granted a CFC seal if they meet criteria such as child participation, reporting, sufficient budget, monitoring and evaluation, internal and external coordination, awareness-raising, participation with citizens and civil society. In Croatia, the Society “Our Children” has been running a children’s city council in the city of Opatija that aims to involve children in expressing their wishes and needs to adults and decisionmakers. The council has its own statute and is composed of children elected through actual 32 33 34 35 36 12 International Budget Partnership Open Budget Survey (see footnote 21). Save the Children, Contributions to Improve Investment in Children and Adolescents and Children’s Participation in the Municipalities of Central America, Managua, 2011, p. 20. Submission from the International Presentation Association of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. African Child Policy Forum, African Report on Child Wellbeing (see footnote 16), p. 26. Save the Children, The Municipal Investment in Children in Nicaragua 2005-2014, Managua, August 2015.