An event on “Youth Perspective for Safe and Healthy Sport” brought together 49 young people (aged 19-29) from 32 member states of the Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) on 26 and 27 May at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, France.
Organised in conjunction with the annual joint plenary meeting of the EPAS Governing Board and Consultative Committee, the event aimed at establishing a youth perspective on the two themes at the heart of the 19th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers Responsible for Sport, to be hosted by Monaco on 3-4 November 2026.
The young people gathered in Strasbourg shared their experiences, ideas and recommendations on how sport can become safer, healthier, more inclusive and more respectful of human rights, in particular children’s rights. They held debates on these topics on 26 May and presented their input at the joint plenary meeting of 27 May, during a session on the implementation of a youth perspective in sport. They also took part in two panel discussions on safer sport for children and sport as a pathway for improving children’s health.
This youth perspective will play a key role in the preparatory work for the 2026 Ministerial Conference, particularly in the development of a resolution on the aforementioned topics, to be adopted by the Conference.
Safe sport is one of the pillars of EPAS. The Partial Agreement strives to promote a safer and healthier sport through and through the “Start to Talk” project and its Pool of International Experts on Safe Sport. “Start to Talk” assists national authorities and sports organisations in devising and applying robust child safeguarding measures, alongside facilitating training and awareness-raising activities.
@CoE_Sports, 