Every year the Platform holds a big meeting for member children to discuss different topics of interest to them, and to help organise the Platform's upcoming activities.
This year was a bit different, as 20 of our members (from 14 countries) joined in the Irish government's big meeting in Dublin, along with 60 other children and young people.
On the second day, 31 July, we had a dedicated Platform meeting to start discussing the topics and work that could be included in the Platform's 2027-2028 Work Plan.
Past, present and future
The meeting had three main parts:
- Looking back: what the Platform has achieved and how children have contributed to its development and activities.
- Looking ahead: identifying issues and priorities that children would like the Platform to address in the future.
- Learning from the event: children’s feedback on their experience of the big Dublin meeting.
The topics to be covered in each of our Work Plans are decided together with children, then coordinated with the Commission to see how to match with upcoming policy work.
Looking ahead
Children's proposed priority topics for the 2027-2028 Work Plan:
- Mental health and well-being
- Bullying, cyberbullying and safer schools
- Sexual education and awareness of sexual abuse
- Practical life and social skills
- Safe and affordable spaces for young people
- Better and more affordable transport, particularly in rural areas
- Equal access to essential services
- Digital rights and online privacy
Children’s ideas for the future development of the Platform:
- Make the Platform and its opportunities better known
- Strengthen social media and child-led communication
- Make participation opportunities easier to find