Children and adolescents' voices matter. First meeting of the new Romanian Children's Board

Bucharest, April 16, 2025. 20 new members of the Children's Board first met with the already active colleagues of the UNICEF-supported group in Romania at an event organized in Predeal last week. The meeting marks the start of a new mandate in which children and adolescents from all over the country and from diverse social backgrounds will take an active role in shaping policies that directly influence their future.

The Children's Board is a consultative body that brings together children and young people elected through an open selection process, led by teenagers, with the support of adults. The members are from diverse backgrounds and bring different perspectives that reflect the realities of children in Romania. But they all share a common goal: to make children's voices heard when the decisions that affect them are made.

The Board provides recommendations to decision-makers, contributing to public policies, promoting children's rights and encouraging their participation in society. The group is regularly refreshed with new members as adolescents reach 18. The Children's Board meets regularly and collaborates with public institutions, non-governmental organizations and academia to put into practice the ideas brought forward by young people. Members will be involved in consultations, events and campaigns on children's rights and active participation in society.

The new members - Eric-Andrei, Anamaria, Karina, Katrina, Anna, Vlad, Bianca-Georgiana, Ioana, Andrei, Cătălina, Sebastian, Adelina, Nicoleta, Dmytro, Evelin, Rania, Renata, Luca-Emanuel, Andreea, Bianca-Florentina and Luca-Stefan - are aged between 12 and 16 and come from all regions of the country.

At the first meeting, the children and teenagers discussed the issues that concern them most: mental health, quality education, combating violence, bullying and discrimination, civic involvement and social inclusion. They also set a calendar of activities for the coming months and started working on a joint action agenda, especially in the context of the National Year of the Child.

"I applied for the Children's Board because I wanted to be part of a community that actively promotes and supports children's rights. The first group meeting showed me how valuable it is for us young people to get involved in building a friendlier and safer world for us all. At the end of the workshop, I left with a lot of inspiration and the belief that together we can make real change in our communities and in our country," said 16-year-old Ioana.

"I wanted to be part of the Children's Board to step out of my comfort zone and do the things that inspire me alongside people with amazing potential, with the common goal of protecting and promoting children's rights. The first Board meeting was an experience I will not soon forget as I had the chance to share my views, learn about the social difficulties some children face and how we can help them," said 16-year-old Sebastian.

"The children's participation is essential for a healthy future. The Children's Board is an inspiring group where children and teenagers express their opinions, develop ideas and discuss them, a space where they can be themselves. The members of the Children's Board are committed, visionary and empathetic, and UNICEF reaffirms its determination to stand by their side to make their voices heard and listened to by Romanian decision makers. I welcome them all and look forward to working together," said Anna Riatti, UNICEF Representative in Romania.

Read more about the Romanian Children's Board here.