This article discusses the results of a study of children's and adolescent's perceptions and experiences with participation, citizenship, rights and responsibilities. The study was conducted in public and private schools in the city of Rio de Janeiro and with children and adolescents living on the streets and from the Landless Farmers Movement (MST). The study addressed questions related to social, economic and political issues as well as perception of gender in relation to rights and participation. The study demonstrated that children and adolescents have a broad notion of their participation and of other concepts. It also reveals that they are aware that their rights are frequently ignored and violated. This study is part of an international study conducted in parallel in six countries with the same themes and methodology.
children's rights; citizenship; participation