On 28-30 April the Council of Europe Youth Department in cooperation with the Council of Europe Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR), and the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) held a seminar on strengthening the implementation of Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)4 on Supporting Young Refugees in Transition to Adulthood.
The seminar brought together 24 participants from refugee- and migrant-led organisations (including youth organisations), other NGOs, and projects active in supporting and promoting the rights and inclusion of children and young people in the contexts of migration and asylum. It also includes representatives from national institutions responsible for migration and refugees (e.g. guardianship authorities and agencies, child protection, child and youth care services, representatives of the Council of Europe Network of Focal Points on Migration), and ministries responsible for youth and the provision of youth work.
The seminar aimed to promote coordinated responses that strengthen the implementation of Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)4, focusing on addressing legal barriers and providing psychosocial support measures for young refugees and migrants in transition to adulthood.
During the seminar, participants:
- examined the psychosocial impact of legal insecurity, including the ways in which uncertainty and administrative obstacles affect the mental health and well-being of young migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers;
- identified integrated approaches that combine legal support, youth work, and psychosocial or mental health services to better support young migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers;
- exchanged practices and experiences among governmental institutions, civil society organisations, youth organisations, and service providers working with young refugees.
The seminar contributed to strengthening inter-agency coordination among actors working in the migration, youth, social, legal, and health sectors, representing governmental and non-governmental structures, including local authorities and youth organisations.
Promising Practices and Additional Resources webpage supporting the implementation of Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)4 on Supporting Young Refugees in Transition to Adulthood was also launched during the seminar
The seminar was supported by the European Forum for Youth with Lived Migration Experiences (VOICIFY), the Voices of Young Refugees in Europe (VYRE) and the Council of Europe project “Strengthening the protection of unaccompanied migrant children in Türkiye” funded by Sweden.
To learn more about the seminar, including its programme and concept note, please consult the dedicated webpage.
