Children’s participation matters: a step towards institutional and legal innovation in Spain

Abstract

Since its adoption in 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has had a significant impact on multilevel legislation regarding children’s rights. This research aims to examine the Spanish legislation on childhood and adolescence in four autonomous communities and in the central state. To achieve this objective, a sociological neoinstitutionalist approach and qualitative methodology based on content analysis and coding using MAXQDA software in its 2022 version were employed. The study focused on the language of the rules, objectives, system of governance, and participation as the main variables. The analysis allowed for an understanding of the discourse and degree of development of these variables. The results of this research reveal the importance of CRC and its influence on national legislation. Additionally, the emphasis on protection policies for the creation of a sphere for children and adolescents is noteworthy. Lastly, the instruments of participation vary but tend to take institutionalized forms. This research contributes to our understanding of the impact of CRC and its influence on childhood and adolescence legislation in Spain.

Content Analysis, Neoinstitutionalism, Children’s rights, Children policies, Multilevel legislation