EU Children’s Participation Platform first General Assembly
On 26 and 27 June the first General Assembly of the EU Children’s Participation Platform took place in Brussels and Eurochild members supported children to participate.
The Platform has been created when Eurochild and other children’s organisations consulted over 10,000 children on what the EU should do for children, and found out they would like decision-makers to listen to their opinions. Children and young people can join the platform if they are supported by organisations which ensure their voices are heard, or if they are part of children’s parliaments, children’s councils (at the local, city or municipality level) and advisory groups to children’s ombudspersons. Through the platform, children can connect with each other, talk to policymakers and decision-makers, discuss topics and themes that affect their lives, and learn about their rights.
Veronika and Markéta, members of the National Parliament of Children and Youth in Czechia, supported by Eurochild member DCI Czechia, joined the EU Child Participation Platform General Assembly opened by European Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica. During the event, they had the opportunity to discuss children’s rights with Member States Representatives and enjoyed a tour of the European Parliament.
On the second day, they had the chance to choose among five thematic workshops on children's rights, children for a fairer and greener Europe, protection from violence, child poverty and co-creation of the consultation. The results of the workshops were presented at the final session and outlined the topics that the EU children's participation platform will focus on in the future. Veronika was also selected on the Platform as a permanent representative of the new child advisory body and will have her first meeting with them on 22-23 October.
The EU Children’s Participation Platform has currently started its first consultation with children asking them about what adults should do to make sure children are and feel safe. Indeed, the EU wants to learn directly from children how to sure they are protected. Children can share their ideas and these will directly influence a new Recommendation on integrated child protection systems, which the EU is planning to publish in spring 2024.
Children are invited to share their views in this online survey.
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