The Global Campus South East Europe hosted the International Children’s Rights Workshop in Sarajevo from 30 March to 3 April, bringing together Child Rights Regional and Thematic Experts, Youth Advisory Group (YAG) representatives from across the Global Campus network, and members of the South East Europe Child Leadership Team (CLT). The workshop created a dynamic space for exchange, collaboration and reflection on meaningful child and youth participation in practice.
Hosted in Sarajevo, the workshop welcomed participants from across regions and generations, including Global Campus children’s rights experts from sister hubs around the world. Throughout the programme, children, young people and adults engaged as equal partners, sharing experiences from different contexts and collectively exploring challenges and opportunities in advancing children’s rights globally.
This participatory approach shaped the workshop from the outset. Child and youth participants, together with child rights experts, actively contributed to the development of the programme, helped define priorities, moderated discussions and delivered presentations, while continuing to shape the follow-up activities and future directions emerging from the meeting. Over the course of three days, participants worked collaboratively to exchange experiences, reflect on ongoing projects and discuss future joint initiatives. Discussions focused on practical approaches to participation, governance and advocacy, while creating opportunities for learning across regions and perspectives.
Youth leadership remained at the centre of the workshop. YAG members contributed to conversations on governance and advocacy priorities, while members of the South East Europe CLT shared insights from projects they are leading on issues such as cyberbullying and the impact of climate change on children’s right to education. One of the highlights of the workshop was a presentation by YAG members on the ongoing student protests in Serbia, demonstrating how young people continue to shape civic space and advocate for social change. The workshop also included opportunities for reflection beyond the formal sessions. Participants visited the War Childhood Museum, where an ERMA alumna facilitated a discussion on children’s lived experiences in conflict and post-conflict settings, further deepening conversations on children’s rights and resilience.
More than a workshop, the Sarajevo gathering reaffirmed the importance of participation and cross-regional collaboration as core principles of the child rights work developed by the Global Campus South East Europe in partnership with Right Livelihood, bringing together children, young people and experts from around the world to learn from one another and act collectively for children’s rights.