The Council of Europe’s Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) participated in the international conference “Transition of Unaccompanied Migrant Children into Adulthood”, held online on 3 July  in Ankara, Türkiye.

The conference brought together over 100 representatives of public institutions, international organisations, civil society, legal professionals, social workers, child protection and psychosocial support experts, academics, and other stakeholders from Türkiye, Moldova and other Council of Europe member States to exchange experiences and discuss challenges that  unaccompanied migrant children face as they transition into adulthood.

Discussions focused on ensuring continuity of protection and access to rights beyond the age of 18, including legal safeguards, psychosocial support, and measures to promote independent living and social inclusion. Participants also shared promising practices aimed at strengthening long-term support systems and improving outcomes for young migrants.

In his opening remarks, the DMR head, Nikos Sitaropoulos, highlighted the Council of Europe’s human rights-based approach to migration and child protection. He stressed the importance of ensuring that young people transitioning to adulthood continue to benefit from effective protection and support, in line with Council of Europe standards.

The event provided a valuable platform for exchanging expertise and reinforcing cooperation among stakeholders committed to enhancing the protection and inclusion of unaccompanied migrant children across Europe.

The conference was organised within the framework of the  project “Strengthening the Protection of Unaccompanied Migrant Children in Türkiye” funded by Sweden, in cooperation with the project “Strengthening the human rights protection of refugees and migrants in the Republic of Moldova: phase II” funded under the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova for 2025-2028.