Check against delivery

The Council of Europe was created to promote co-operation and unity in Europe, on the basis of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. It was founded in the aftermath of the Second World War, when Europe’s leaders came together to agree the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Convention enshrines the fundamental liberties all people are entitled to, including the right to life, prohibition of torture, freedom of expression and freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Today our 47 member states are party to the Convention, virtually every country on the European continent.

In 1972, this European Youth Centre was founded. The intention was to create a home for young people, where you can bring your visions of the world and together make a contribution to building a more peaceful and united Europe. I invite you to feel at home here. Regardless of your status or origin, this is your home!

I also invite you to make the most of this Peace Camp. The Youth Peace Camp is all about your participation, and putting you at the centre of our work. At the Council of Europe, young people are not just objects of our policy making. We work for young people by working with you. Our mandate is to support member states and youth organisations to ensure that every young person has an equal opportunity to play a full part in all aspects of society. Every young person should have the right to participate, and this right must be respected.

Peace-building has always been among the core concerns of the young people working with us.

As we speak, many young people are involved in and are victims of armed conflicts and their consequences, most against their will. In any armed conflict, there is the potential for a massive violation of all human rights. Some of you come from territories with contested status, which can sometimes have serious consequences for the protection of rights, too.  No one’s rights should be affected by the status of the territory in which they live.

Where we find such conflicts, we must continue to strive for democracy as the basis for peace. I am especially pleased that young people from Cyprus are with us this week. Their presence will contribute, I hope, to the process of reconciliation among all communities in Cyprus, and I would like to thank the Cypriot Chairmanship of the Council of Europe, and in particular, Ambassador Constantinidou, for their support to this activity.

I would also encourage you to give some thought to the many young people in Europe who are today exposed to other forms of violence, such as hate speech, discrimination, psychological and physical violence. Perhaps they are victims of the rise in terrorism and extremism, or discrimination against certain groups in our societies, such as migrants, refugees, displaced persons and ethnic minorities.

Real peace in Europe means addressing these problems too. And here, together, you have a valuable opportunity to discuss how we can meet these challenges, working together for societies where liberty and human rights are safeguarded for all.

If I have one word of advice for you it’s to make sure that these conversations don’t end when you leave to return home. Stay in touch, with each other and with the Council of Europe, and keep those bonds alive even once you are back in your countries. These relationships are the means by which we build a more open and understanding Europe.

One last thing: if you are not yet participating in our No Hate Speech Movement campaign, I strongly urge you to do so. Young people are one of our most powerful weapons against hateful discourses, especially on the internet. So use that power and get involved.

With that, I wish you all the best for the rest of the Camp. And I very much hope to see you all again in the future. As I said, you are always welcome here. Think of this as your home.