Emerging clearly from the first volume in this new series is the importance of the voice of the child. With their emphasis on the twin themes of participation and empowerment, the contributors present the active role of children as autonomous individuals with a stake in the decision-making process. Contributions from many different perspectives - including chapters by children - examine the liberation of the voice of the child, addressing the need to listen to children and to act on their thoughts in order to transform traditional power relationships.

This collection has developed out of presentations at the First World Conference on Research and Practice in Children's Rights - a conference which was a flagship event in that for the first time anywhere in the world children were actively involved in the planning, the proceedings and the evaluation of a meeting about the UN Convention.