On 23 June, young members of our Platform presented a Call to Action to EU and national decision-makers at the 15th European Forum on the Rights of the Child in Brussels.
Alexandra, Andrea, Jad, Margaux, Rugile, Michael, Lukáš and Jan spoke to an audience of 150 people about the issues that matter, and where adults at all levels need to make progress.
The Call to Action came out of two days of discussions and workshops with 80 children and teens during our General Assembly meeting on 20-21 June in Brussels, and nearly three years of work within the Platform.
| "The Call to Action from the EU Children Participation Platform has a huge role in every child's day-to-day life, making sure that safety, democracy and other EU values are represented by politicians across Europe." Gabrielus, 17 |
What is in the Call to Action?
The children chose five big areas that they think need action. These were matched with the EU’s own goals — so that adults in power can work with children to make changes that matter.
Here are just a few of their recommendations:
- Intergenerational fairness: We want a change in the mentality in society: adult role models have to stop negative talking and bullying of others and stop blaming victims.
- Well-being in schools: Children must be educated on their rights, so they know how to act when they are not respected. We want the EU to recommend all members states to have this topic in the school curriculum.
- Working together against hate: Make Erasmus bigger. Have a bigger budget and make it more inclusive, so that more countries, schools and children can participate. This promotes that we understand each other better and creates less hate and learn more about cultures of other countries.
- Online safety & cyberbullying: Teach teachers to teach children how to be safe. Include in the bubble of what we learn - how to have private accounts, have healthy screen habits, how to work with information, and to think critically.
- Climate action: More funding should be invested in research to continue to evidence climate change and the impacts.
For each topic area, the Call to Action includes:
- The hopes and dreams of the children
- What they are asking for
- The relevant child rights articles
Watch the children presenting the Call to Action
| "The Call to Action is the voice of the children of the Platform, and it’s the way we have to build our futures, without forgetting the present." Andreas, 13 |
What will happen next?
- During the Forum, the details from the call were woven through the different thematic discussions
- Adults could leave messages for the children through a dedicated QR code
- Input from the call will be integrated to the Forum report
- Proposals will be taken forward into the revised Strategy of the Rights of the Child