Authentic participation by children and youth, serious political commitments, shared experiences from over 30 non-governmental organisations across Europe, and a strong desire to work together for a present and future that supports children’s rights and child protection systems —these were the highlights of this year’s Eurochild International Conference, in which we participated as a member of the network of children’s organisations in Europe.

 

“It was extremely difficult to choose which of my colleagues’ experiences to hear about during the more than 12 scheduled workshops. I met with professionals and like-minded individuals from across Europe, with whom I had the opportunity to discuss the challenges each of us faces and the solutions we discover daily at the local and national levels. But the most exciting thing of all was hearing so many children and young people share their sincere and genuine opinions on how to improve their lives, what is important to them, and how the adults and policymakers who support them can listen more closely to their needs,” — said our Executive Director Adriana Gotzova after the two-day meeting.

 

The conference took place on June 16–17, 2026, in Paphos, Cyprus, and was hosted by the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event was organised jointly with the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee for the Protection and Welfare of Children (PCCPWC) and was attended by over 160 people from 31 countries. Representatives of EU institutions, the Cypriot government, and civil society organisations from across Europe, along with members of the international network Eurochild, participated in the conference. The Bulgarian delegation of experts and practitioners comprised more than 13 people from over 5 organisations, including child advocates, who shared their experiences during several plenary sessions.