A conversation is not a contest
Who was present? What language was used? Was the question understandable? Could the child speak freely? These circumstances matter when interpreting an account.
A child should be able to describe school, home, relationships and concerns without being pushed into a choice framed by adults.
Participation has legal weight
CRC Article 12 recognises the right to express views and have them given due weight. Article 78 of the Georgian Child Rights Code requires an opportunity to express a view without third-party influence, through a supportive dialogue rather than interrogation. [1] [2]
Giving weight to the child’s view requires listening and reasoning. It is neither a licence to ignore the child nor a way to transfer the whole responsibility for the decision to them.
Look carefully at context
When pressure, fear or a communication difficulty is raised, it needs a careful, competent assessment. A decision-maker should not dismiss a view simply because an adult dislikes it. Equally, recording a sentence does not remove the need to understand the circumstances in which it was expressed.
We oppose routine repetition of interviews just to seek a different answer.
Tell the child what happened
We call for age-appropriate explanations of the decision, the part the child’s view played and the next step. The child should know whom to contact when a concern arises. Participation should leave the child better informed, not simply more exposed.
