Children from 15 countries take part in conference

Young Advisor Saif is in Romania to work with young people from all over Europe on children’s right to physical health. 

Saif, 16, is taking part in the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children’s (ENOC) annual conference in Bucharest, with children from 14 other countries. 

In July, they met in Croatia to agree their main priorities and recommendations on the topic at the European Network of Young Advisors (ENYA) forum, and this three-day conference is an opportunity to share that work with children’s commissioners and ombudspersons. 

Before going to Croatia, the Commissioner’s Young Advisors worked with other children in Scotland to develop recommendations to improve children’s physical health and engaged thousands of children at an online assembly on what physical activities they do at school. 

Saif said: “Before the start of the conference I was looking forward to the young people locking in, giving a brilliant presentation, and for the decision-makers in the room and across Europe to hear our voices. 

“On Day 1, I led the warm-up activity which included a Mexican wave. We wanted to make it fun for everyone.  

“I really enjoyed giving a presentation on what we learned from children and young people across Scotland, like the primary children who took part in our e-Sgoil assembly.  

“On the second day, we shared details of our recommendations. We asked the Commissioners and Ombudspersons how they felt about them, and what they are going to do now they have heard them. We want them to take the recommendations and improve the physical health rights of children across Europe.” 

ENOC delegates and the young people will now draft a joint statement on the right to physical health.