In spite of the difficult period the Organisation is currently traversing, the co-managed Joint Council on Youth wished to celebrate the Council of Europe’s achievements that, since 1949, have shaped our Continent. 

From the creation of a death penalty free zone in almost every country in Europe, through putting an end to the use of cage-like "net beds” for psychiatric patients, the recognition of hate speech as a human rights issue, the breaking of the silence on child sex abuse, to the shaping of generations of democracy and human rights-spirited young Europeans by the Organisation’s youth sector, the list of what the Council of Europe has done for us is long.

Thanks to the Council of Europe, young people have better access to rights, opportunities for youth participation have increased, youth work provision is improved, and policy solutions for young people in situations of exclusion, discrimination and violence have been found.

The youth representatives of the Advisory Council on Youth and the governmental representatives responsible for youth issues in the 50 States Parties to the European Cultural Convention, proudly celebrated the Council of Europe’s achievements and 70 years of “Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Our Europe”.

Happy 70th birthday Council of Europe!

From left to right: Antje Rothemund, Head of the Youth Department, Gordana Berjan, Executive Director of the European Youth Centre Budapest, Ivan Hromada, Vice-Chair of the CDEJ, Miriam Teuma, Chair of the CDEJ, Anja Olin Pape, Chair of the CMJ and of the CCJ, Georgios Chatzigeorgiou, Vice-Chair of the CCJ, Florian Cescon, Head of the Youth Policy Division