On 26 June, the Sub-Committee on Refugee and Migrant Children and Young People held a dedicated dialogue with representatives from the Council of Europe’s Youth Sector. Nina Grmuša (Chairperson of the Advisory Council on Youth and the Joint Council on Youth), Sulkhani Chargeishvili (Educational Advisor) and Tobias Flessenkemper (Head of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe) engaged with Committee members on the importance of including youth perspectives in PACE's work and deliberations and enhancing youth participation in policy-making.
During the discussions, participants highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by marginalised young people to engage in democratic processes, particularly young refugees, migrants, and individuals with disabilities. These challenges include legal, financial, and logistical barriers that prevent meaningful participation. In some contexts, young activists and human rights defenders face intimidation, retaliation or even imprisonment simply for engaging in democratic processes.
These challenges are particularly acute for unaccompanied minors and those transitioning out of care systems as they reach adulthood. To address these issues, the Council of Europe’s Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)4 provides a comprehensive, rights-based framework to support young refugees in their transition to adulthood. Currently, the Council of Europe is conducting a review of implementation of Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)4 and it has invited youth and civil society stakeholders to participate in a survey. A seminar “Supporting Young Refugees: The Next Chapter”, held on 19-20 June at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, brought together young people and stakeholders to explore ways of strengthening the implementation of the Recommendation across member States.
The exchange concluded with a clear message: Young people are not disengaged from Democracy; they are active and committed, but often excluded or their needs overlooked. Institutions must move beyond symbolic consultation and towards genuine inclusion and power-sharing. Investing in youth participation, removing systemic barriers, and fostering intergenerational trust and dialogue are essentials.
Looking ahead, the Sub-Committee on Refugee and Migrant Children and Young People reaffirmed its commitment to deepening co-operation with the Council of Europe’s Youth Sector. It will continue to involve representatives from the Advisory Council on Youth in its work, helping to ensure that youth perspectives are at the heart of their work and deliberations.
This initiative is part of the implementation of PACE Resolution 2553 (2024), which sets out how to strengthen the youth perspective in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly. This resolution provides the foundation for a formal youth co-operation mechanism in close partnership with the Council of Europe’s Youth Sector.
