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1. Introduction

This report summarizes the key findings and insights from the conference The right of children and young people to be heard, seen, and involved in the Nordic region, held in Helsinki on 4–5 June 2025. The event, hosted by the Nordic Welfare Centre, marked the conclusion of a four-year initiative launched in 2021 to strengthen the right of children and young people to participate in decision-making — particularly in response to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Launched in 2021 and supported by NORDBUK and the Nordic Council of Ministers, the project responded to research showing that children’s voices were largely overlooked during the pandemic.

The legal foundation – Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

At the heart of this initiative lies Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which affirms that children have the right to express their views freely in all matters affecting them. These views must be given due weight in accordance with the child’s age and maturity. This principle is not only a democratic ideal — it is a binding legal obligation for all Nordic countries, and it must be operationalised in both everyday governance and crisis response. The project aims to ensure that, in the future, children’s and young people’s views are taken seriously in matters that affect them in everyday life, as well as during times of crisis.
Children and young people have not only participated in this conference — they have been central to the entire four-year project. They have contributed to all reports and some have served as permanent representatives in the project’s steering group, ensuring that youth perspectives have shaped both process and outcomes.

Overview of the project’s publications
The following reports have been published as part of the project:
  7. A final report will be launched this autumn with a focus on children’s right to participation in leisure — an essential arena for inclusion, development, and belonging.

Conference highlights

The conference brought together researchers, advocates, policymakers and young people to discuss key findings and ways to enhance involvement of children and young people in decision-making, particularly during crises. Many of the speakers were young people themselves.
Rather than concluding the project, the conference marked a starting point for continued action. Insights gathered through workshops will inform future research and policy. Youth contributions during this conference have directly informed the report Participation is protection – embedding children’s rights in Nordic crisis governance, which was launched at the Democracy Festival in Arendal 12 August 2025.
Broadcast from seminar at Arendalsuka (in Scandinavian languages)

Key messages

  • Children’s right to be heard is a legal obligation.
  • Children and youth must be involved in all decisions that affect them — especially in times of crisis.
  • Youth have played a central role throughout this project.
  • The revision of the Helsinki Agreement offers a unique opportunity to embed children’s rights structurally in Nordic co-operation.
  • Participation leads to better decisions, stronger inclusion, and more resilient societies.
nordicwelfare.org