Children and young people make up a large share of those forcibly displaced worldwide, many of whom are unaccompanied. As they transition to adulthood, they often face legal uncertainty alongside significant psychosocial challenges, increasing their vulnerability and risk of social exclusion. In these circumstances, questions about their future, such as “What will happen to me?”, often arise.
The seminar “Building Futures: Legal Pathways and Psychosocial Support for Young Refugees and Migrants in Transition to Adulthood” gathered 24 participants from Council of Europe member States. Participants included representatives from refugee- and migrant-led organisations, youth and civil society organisations, and public authorities, including the Ministry of Family and Social Services of Türkiye.
Participants discussed strategies and good practices to strengthen support systems for young refugees and migrants in transition to adulthood, focusing on removing legal barriers and improving psychosocial support during this crucial period.
Discussions underlined that turning 18 often creates a gap in protection, as young people leave child-specific systems while still needing support. Participants stressed the importance of combining clear legal pathways with continuous psychosocial assistance, as well as strengthening co-operation between institutions to ensure coordinated responses.
The project “Strengthening the Protection of Unaccompanied Migrant Children in Türkiye” was also presented as an important initiative aiming to, among others, support unaccompanied children as they transition to adulthood. This topic remains particularly relevant for Türkiye, which continues to host one of the largest migrant and refugee populations in the world, including a significant number of children.
The seminar was organised by 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), with the support of 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.
