Children to be consulted on Brexit, Welsh Government says
The Welsh Government hopes the consultation will ensure ministers understand the views of the younger generation.
Children in Wales aged as young as seven will get the chance to have their say on the Brexit process, the Welsh Government has said.
A consultation is being launched to help ministers understand the views of the younger generation and make sure they are represented in the Welsh Government’s discussions and decisions about Wales’ future once the UK leaves the EU.
Announcing the plans, Wales’ Minister for Children Huw Irranca-Davies said Brexit would bring about some of the biggest changes children and young people would face in their adult lives, so he was looking forward to hearing their views – and ensuring they were acted on.
“The majority of the adult population of the UK who voted in the EU referendum in 2016 took a monumental decision that the UK should leave the EU,” he said.
“As a government, we accept that decision, and are doing all we can to ensure Wales and the rest of the UK gets the very best deal from it.
“However, our children are our future, so it’s absolutely vital we ensure their views and concerns are listened to.”
The consultation, which will be voluntary, will also involve the establishment of a Brexit Advisory Group of 12 young people from across Wales, and digital and social media resources to help keep children and young people informed during the Brexit process.
In addition, 15 young people will be helped to deliver 25 workshops in a bid to engage more than 600 of their peers.
A report on the outcome of the consultation will be delivered to the Welsh Government in the autumn.
The Welsh Government said it was committed to the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which says children have a right to say what they think when adults are making decisions that affect them and to have their opinions taken into account.
Chief executive of Children in Wales Catriona Williams OBE said the Young Wales programme helped to increase the participation of children and young people in influencing the development of Welsh Government policies.
She said: “We know from them that they are really keen to have their views heard at this critical time in relation to negotiations over Brexit as it will be their futures which will be particularly affected.”