By Ciaran O'Donnell | Partnerships and Programmes Coordinator
More than 160 people - including 24 children - from 31 countries attended the Eurochild Conference on Child Protection Systems in Paphos, Cyprus, on 16–17 June 2026. The event, hosted by the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, was co-organised with the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee for the Protection and Welfare of Children. Representatives from EU institutions, the Cypriot government, and civil society organisations joined Eurochild members, as well as experts and practitioners.
“We gather at a time when the world feels increasingly uncertain. Across Europe and beyond, we are witnessing growing inequalities, rising poverty, increasing political polarisation, shrinking civic space, and a worrying erosion of trust in institutions. At the same time, conflicts continue to devastate the lives of millions of children. The protection of children is not only about responding when something goes wrong. It is about building societies where children can thrive. It is about prevention, dignity, inclusion, justice, and hope,” said Sabine Saliba, Eurochild Secretary General.
Children led several sessions throughout the conference, including a really energising network session at the start, to set the tone for our two days of interaction, learning, and peer exchange. Children also organised their own workshop as part of the wider programme, and participated in the closing ceremony, where we also celebrated the end of the current Children's Council mandate, by acknowledging each child's contribution to Eurochild over the past two years.
During the event, the Eurochild report “Our voices matter” was also presented. This publication features children’s quotes and insights from consultations with 128 children in five countries, and explores how children view and experience participation in decision-making processes. As one child from Bulgaria said during a group discussion: “Children are human beings no matter what their age is […] this doesn’t mean that they cannot have opinions on issues or be involved in decisions.”
As demonstrated by the work of the Eurochild network and the conference discussions, strong child protection systems depend on effective collaboration. When children, governments, service providers, civil society organisations, and communities work together, they can identify risks earlier, respond more effectively, and ensure that every child receives the support and protection they need. Collaboration helps create coordinated, child-centred systems that leave no child behind.
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