Young people remain engaged in life in Estonia

On the last day of June, 25 active young people gathered at the Office of the Chancellor of Justice to share their experiences of participation in school, community, local government and national issues that concern children and young people. The participants included young advisers to the Children’s Ombudsman, child rights ambassadors of the Estonian Union for Child Welfare, members of youth councils and representatives of student councils. The young people came together from different parts of Estonia: Tallinn, Tartu, Harju County, Lääne County, Hiiu County, Saare County, Pärnu County, Järva County, Viljandi County, Valga County and Võru County.

It was a pleasure to hear how much participation has enriched young people’s lives. There are local authorities in Estonia that listen to and take into account young people’s opinions, for example when planning public space. There are also schools where agreements are made together with students, for example on how many tests may be held in a week and how students are notified of them in advance. At the same time, it gave reason to reflect on what could be done so that young people would feel more strongly that their participation has an impact. Unfortunately, examples were also given where the involvement of young people has been merely formal.

We collected young people’s experiences at the request of the Council of Europe. Almost 15 years ago, European ministers adopted a recommendation to support the participation of children and young people more than before. Now it is time to assess how states have fulfilled that promise. An overview of the experiences of young people across Europe will be prepared by the summer of 2027.

The young people were also greeted by Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise, with whom they discussed rules on the use of smart devices and social media. One of the messages from the young people was that ensuring reasonable use cannot be left solely to children themselves, parents and schools; manufacturers and service providers must also comply with the rules.