On 18 April, the Council of Europe  launched a set of practical tools aimed at helping young migrants and refugees in their transition to adulthood, with the support of the Icelandic Presidency of the Committe of Ministers and the participation of Iceland’s Minister of Education and Children, Ásmundur Einar Daðason.

Addressing an international launching event at the European Youth Centre , entitled “Turning 18 with Confidence: Supporting Migrant and Refugee Children in transition to Adulthood”, Minister Daðason highlighted that although “We normally define childhood up until the age of 18, it is of utmost importance that we as governments continue our support beyond that age, strengthening our systems in co-operation and conversation with the young people themselves. There is no magic transition that happens on a person´s 18th birthday, young people are still the same persons as they were the day before. Therefore, we need to make sure that sensitivity to this fact is an integral part of how governments think, act and prioritise.”

The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Leyla Kayacik, acknowledged the resilience of these young people aging out of child protection, and reaffirmed the Council of Europe’s commitment to supporting them in their transition to adulthood, in line with its standards. “Their well-being and successful inclusion are key to the cohesion of host societies and deserve a special focus”, she stated. 

Together with a practical guide on the implementation of the Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation (CM/Rec (2019)4), today’s event presented the Roadmap to Adulthood and other tools developed in the framework of the Council of Europe multilateral project “Building Futures, Sharing Good Practices: Migrant Children’s Transition to Adulthood – UACFutures”.

The launch gathered more than a hundred participants, who exchanged experience, drew inspiration from good practices and tools, and improved their knowledge and capacity to help migrant and refugee children along their path to adulthood. In this context, the Youth Department has also organised a workshop with young refugees and youth workers at the European Youth Centre from 17 to 19 April.

The event (*) was co-organised by the Office of the SRSG on Migration and Refugees, the Youth Department and the Co-operation Programmes Division – Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, with support from the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).

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(*) This Event is co-funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Council of Europe.

On 18 April 2023, the Council of Europe is hosting an International Launching Event on “Turning 18 with Confidence: Supporting Migrant and Refugee Children in transition to Adulthood”.

The event is co-organised by the Council of Europe’s Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG ), the Youth Department  and the Co-operation Programmes Division – Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law  (DGI) with the support of the Icelandic Presidency  of the Council of Europe and the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).

The aim of the event is to raise awareness and improve the knowledge and capacities of relevant professionals in supporting young refugees and migrants in their transition to adulthood. It will provide an opportunity to present and launch the Guide for the implementation of the Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)4 on supporting young refugees in transition to adulthood , as well as the findings and tools developed in the framework of the multilateral project “Building Futures, Sharing Good Practices: Migrant Children’s Transition to Adulthood – UACFutures”.

In the presence of the Minister of Education and Children of Iceland, Mr. Ásmundur Einar Daðason, participants, representatives of public authorities, international organisations, civil society organisations, young refugees and migrants will engage in a dialogue with a view to promoting the exchange of good practices and know-how in the field.

See the Concept Note and the Agenda for more information.

On 24 November 2022, Fundación Cepaim is holding a “Transnational Workshop on “Migrant Children’s Transition to Adulthood” in Madrid, Spain. The workshop is organised in the framework of the multilateral project “Building

Futures, Sharing Good Practices: Migrant Children’s Transition to Adulthood” – UACFutures”, co-funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Council of Europe.

The aim of the workshop is to raise awareness and strengthen the knowledge of relevant professionals in supporting unaccompanied children during their transition to adulthood. The participants will, inter alia, discuss promising practices on participatory strategies for unaccompanied migrant children, access to basic rights and legal support, and access to accommodation. Interactive working tables will foster exchanges of experiences and strengthen transnational and multiagency co-operation between Council of Europe member States.

The workshop will bring together representatives from public authorities, international organisations, child protection agencies, social and legal professionals, civil society organisations, academia, and other relevant actors involved in the protection of unaccompanied children and young refugees and migrants.

See the Concept Note for more information.

From 13 to 15 June 2022, Fundación Cepaim organised a study visit to Spain for the project partners and representatives from France and Italy. During the study visit, the participants learnt about the Spanish practices on the protection and support provided to unaccompanied migrant children during their transition to adulthood. The participants also gained important insights and knowledge on youth empowerment, community participation, access to the labour market, and the reform of the Spanish Foreigner Law (Royal Decree 903/2021 of 19 October 2021).

From 10 to 11 May 2022, Nidos organised a study visit to the Netherlands for the project partners and representatives from Belgium, Bulgaria, and Portugal. During the study visit, the participants learnt about the Dutch practices and experience on the protection and support provided to unaccompanied migrant children in their transition to adulthood.