Palm, S. & Sahlim, C. (2026). Child Participation and Faith: Supporting spaces where children can be seen and heard. Sexual Violence Research Initiative.

Abstract

This Dialogue Brief, the third in a series co-produced by SVRI’s Working Group on Faith & Violence against Children of the Faith & GBV Community of Practice, draws on practice-based insights from participants in the Working Group’s 12-week educational course, Faith and Helping Children Thrive without Violence, on child participation and faith. Authored by Dr Selina Palm and Mr Charles Sahlim, the brief reflects on cultural and religious norms that can silence children, and explores how faith traditions can offer positive resources for children’s voices and meaningful participation. It highlights child participation as integral to the wider task of child protection and recommends a number of key shifts required for faith communities to help place children’s voices, agency and spirituality at the centre.