Barbara Bennett Woodhouse

Listening to children: Participation rights of minors in Italy and the United States

This article compares laws and policies in Italy and the US regarding childrens right to be heard and to engage in the life of the community. Italy has adopted a strong childrens rights perspective, informed by the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The US, with its pre-modern constitution and resistance to international law, has been slow to recognise childrens rights to voice and agency. The US Supreme Court has extended some due process rights to children in criminal court proceedings, but the US lags far behind Italy in recognition of childrens rights to participate in civic life and collective decision-making. Child well-being rankings may reflect these differences in attitudes towards childrens rights. Italy ranks significantly higher than the US on objective measures of child well-being and Italian children report superior peer and family relationships.