Young People's Perspectives on Participatory Ethics: Agency, Power and Impact in Domestic Abuse Research and Policy‐Making. (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Houghton, Claire
• Is Part Of: Child abuse review. Volume 24:Number 4(2015:Jul./Aug.)
• Page Start: 235
• Page End: 248
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Child abuse -- Periodicals; Child abuse -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Abused children -- Services for -- Periodicals; Abused children -- Services for -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 362.76
• DOI: 10.1002/car.2407
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-9136

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="car2407-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Children's perspectives literature repositions children and young people as active participants in surviving domestic abuse, protecting their family, opposing the violence and recovering from abuse. However, key tenets of safeguarding in relation to domestic abuse, both in practice and childhood research ethics, struggle to fully recognise children's agency and the need to empower children and young people as well as women. Children's right to participation now extends to national policy‐making in many countries, yet has not been explored in relation to the interdependency of women and children's rights, safety and wellbeing where both have been subject to abuse.</p> <p>This paper challenges the current exclusion of young voices from the development of ethical praxis. It outlines a participatory ethical approach that promotes the inclusion and empowerment of young survivors in research and policy. Young expert advisors on Scottish domestic abuse policy (2009–11) co‐develop the approach (participatory action research) which is informed by a wider study (2004–11) about children's help‐seeking and solutions for practice. Mullender <italic>et al</italic>.'<italic>s</italic> accepted model of three Cs and Ds (consent, confidentiality, child protection: danger, distress, disclosure) are adapted to focus on children's agency. Three Es are added focusing on children's power and impact: enjoyment, empowerment and emancipation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> <boxed-text content-type="pullQuote" id="car2407-blk-0001" position="anchor" orientation="portrait"> <p>'This paper challenges the current exclusion of young voices from the development of ethical praxis'</p> </boxed-text> </sec> <sec id="car2407-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Key Practitioner Messages</title> <p> <list id="car2407-list-0001" list-type="bullet"> <list-item id="car2407-li-0001"> <p>Children and young people have a distinct, essential voice in risk assessment and management.</p> </list-item> <list-item id="car2407-li-0002"> <p>They are competent and central decision‐makers, they can consent to participation.</p> </list-item> <list-item id="car2407-li-0003"> <p>Participation can be a powerful therapeutic tool.</p> </list-item> <list-item id="car2407-li-0004"> <p>Enjoyment, empowerment and emancipation are intrinsic to participation, alongside recognition of children's agency in safeguarding.</p> </list-item> <list-item id="car2407-li-0005"> <p>Access to power, equal voice and impact on children's lives are preconditions of participation to young survivors – to be worth the inherent risk of speaking out.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> <boxed-text content-type="pullQuote" id="car2407-blk-0002" position="anchor" orientation="portrait"> <p>'Participation can be a powerful therapeutic tool'</p> </boxed-text> <boxed-text content-type="pullQuote" id="car2407-blk-0035" position="anchor" orientation="portrait"> <p>'Access to power, equal voice and impact on children's lives are preconditions of participation to young survivors'</p> </boxed-text> </sec> </abstract>