Teens discuss issues affecting democracy at the 1st global Teens' Athens Democracy Forum

ΑΤΗΕNS, OCTOBER 2, 2023— Building on last year’s day-long Teens Athens Democracy Forum, organized on the Athens Democracy Forum (ADF) 10^th Anniversary in collaboration with UNICEF, this year, the two entities teamed up to turn youth participation into a 3-day long side Forum bringing together 29 teens 13-17 years old from around the world to discuss in depth issues that affect their lives and communities, in collaboration with the Greek Deputy Ombudswoman for Child Rights.

"I believe that it is important for young people to participate in events such as the Athens Democracy Forum because they are given the chance to discuss current issues that concern them directly and to take up initiatives, so that they can later express their opinions and have an impact on political developments, says Marianna, high school student from Thessaloniki."

The innovative and promising collaboration was introduced during a pre-plenary ADF panel discussion moderated by 16-year-old Alexia Papageorgiou and 17-year-old Ines Saltiel, the two co-founders of Teens for Democracy. During the panel discussion, UNICEF Representative in Greece Dr. Ghassan Khalil, Greek Deputy Ombudsman for Children’s Rights & former Chair of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) Ms. Theoni Koufonikolakou and General Manager of The Democracy &Culture Foundation Ms. Elina Makri addressed the importance of ongoing, meaningful youth participation and representation in all stages of decision-making processes within  democratic societies. The he adoption of mechanisms and measures that ensure the implementation  of the fundamental right for every child to participate, express their views and be heard with safety and respect (Articles 12 and 13 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) were also highlighted.

“Child Rights are the foundation of democratic societies” stated UNICEF Representative Ghassan Khalil during his remarks, adding, “an integral pillar of UNICEF’s mission across the globe is to ensure meaningful and uninterrupted participation of young people in decision making processes, aiming to shape a fair, equal and safe future, for every child and young person. We are delighted to partner with The Democracy & Culture Foundation for a second consecutive year and we hope the Teens Athens Democracy Forum will continue to serve as a global platform for bringing current and future decision makers together.”

Achilles Tsaltas, President of The Democracy & Culture Foundation noted “One cannot stress how crucial youth participation is to any democratic process. With Teens for Democracy, the Democracy & Culture Foundation is striving for teens to be more involved, it’s as simple as that. This year’s 11^th Athens Democracy Forum was only but the next step for our initiative, together with our partners UNICEF and Greek Ombudsman. We will certainly be doing more, taking into account feedback and outcomes.”

During three days of immersive workshops, interactive sessions and vibrant discourse, teens discussed significant topics, such as ways to engage children and youth on climate education, and mechanisms to encourage active participation of adolescents and youth in decision-making at local and national levels. The participants also had the opportunity to attend an interactive workshop led by Google on misinformation, freedom of speech and human rights. A teens’ delegation presented their conclusions and key recommendations to decision makers and adult ADF participants, during a plenary panel session on the last day of the Forum.

“There is no such thing as a child-neutral policy. All decisions affect children, their lives and their development. And still, children are excluded from decision making. It is imperative to empower children within schools and local communities consistently and coherently. It is important to ensure the safe space required to help them raise their voice. And above all, it is essential to listen carefully. This is how we enhance our social cohesion and enrich our democracies” stated, Deputy Ombudswoman for Child Rights, Theoni Koufonikolakou.

Among other sessions, the Teens Athens Democracy Forum was honoured by the presence of EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen and US Ambassador to Greece George J. Tsunis who spoke with the teen participants and exchanged views on key agenda issues.