Twenty-seven youth multipliers met at the European Youth Centre Budapest to participate in the study session “Human Rights-Based Advocacy Unleashed: Access to Rights and Services for Young Migrant & Refugee Women in Europe”. In cooperation with the Voices of Young Refugees in Europe (VYRE), the event equipped 22 young advocates with personal migration experience and/or working with young migrants and refugees with skills in human rights-based advocacy tailored to supporting young migrant and refugee women across Europe.
David Best, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on Migration and Refugees presented the work of the Council of Europe with young refugees, including the Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)4 on supporting young refugees in transition to adulthood.
Participants learned more about the guide “Turning 18 with Confidence: Supporting Migrant and Refugee Children in Transition to Adulthood” and other Council of Europe manuals for human rights education with young migrants and refugees to identify feasible measures that can be implemented as local actions addressing the specific needs of young migrant and refugee women. The session was held from 11 to 15 November.
Positive storytelling with young refugees
A study session with 26 young activists, youth representatives from NGOs and representatives from local, regional and national authorities on “Positive storytellers,” took place on 25-30 November at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg. It was co-organised with the Youth Social Rights Network (Y-SRN) and I-participate within the Youth programme of the Council of Europe.
The study session developed participants knowledge and expertise on the key human and social rights challenges impacting refugees and migrants. Participants discussed the key issues affecting the young migrants and refugees in their contexts and learned about the Council of Europe’s Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)4 Supporting young refugees in transition to adulthood. The focus on creating positive stories and narratives that make young refugees and migrants feel valued, accepted, and with a sense of belonging in their new homes was adopted in order to support young refugees and youth workers to deal with and react to hostile or reactions in their environments.
During the study session participants practiced storytelling techniques and communication methodologies with input from experts in the field of journalism and youth advocacy. As outcomes of this activity, they are developing impactful storytelling initiatives and communication campaigns that seek to positively change the perception and narrative towards refugees and migrants in their communities.
