Merjem Pašić, a Youth Advisory Group (YAG) representative from the Balkans, played a central role in the Child Rights International Workshop held from 19–21 March 2025 in Venice. On Day 2 of the workshop, she served as a moderator during the 13:00–14:30 session dedicated to “Regional Trends on Child Rights,” where YAG members presented critical issues affecting children in their communities. Merjem delivered a compelling presentation titled “POV: Child Rights in our Community: Balkans-Based.”
Her presentation was the result of thoughtful peer-to-peer consultations she had undertaken with children in her home region to better understand their views and experiences. Drawing from these insights, she produced and showcased a powerful seven-minute video that highlighted pressing issues such as education gaps, discrimination, lack of mental health support, and youth participation challenges. Her multimedia presentation not only resonated with the other youth representatives but also made a strong impression on the regional child rights experts and stakeholders in attendance. Her contribution significantly enriched the discussion by bringing authentic, community-based perspectives into the policy and advocacy dialogue. She also helped facilitate a broader conversation on the importance of engaging youth in child rights initiatives across Europe and beyond.