The Advisory Council on Youth echoes the statement of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in “condemning the Russian military attack against Ukraine in flagrant violation of the Statute of Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights.”

These attacks will have devastating effects on the young people living in the conflict areas, displacing them and their families, disrupting their lives and development, and infringing on their access to rights. The attacks directly contradict the enduring work on youth policy development and human rights education in the Council of Europe and its member States. This is a dark hour for Europe and everything we stand for.

The Advisory Council on Youth stands in solidarity with Ukraine and its young people. We fully support the National Youth Council of Ukraine and other youth organisations committed to the values of the Council of Europe.

In the spirit of education for democratic citizenship and human rights, promoted by the Council of Europe, we firmly believe that peaceful and diplomatic dialogue with all relevant stakeholders in governments and civil society is the only appropriate way to address the situation.

We call on the Council of Europe to reaffirm and actively seek to reinvigorate its role as a platform for diplomatic dialogue to safeguard human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The opinions expressed in this statement are those of the Advisory Council on Youth and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Council of Europe or its member states.