UNICEF Greece Country Office and the Network for Children’s Rights (NCR) in collaboration with the Municipality of Athens, hosted the U-Report inaugural event at the Serafio of the Municipality of Athens, welcoming the platform to Athens and launching the first poll based on the expectations of children and young people from their cities.
More than 90 middle school and high school students, as well as representatives of youth organizations and accommodation centres for unaccompanied refugee children, attended the event where an extensive presentation of U-Report took place, giving participants further information on how to register on the platform that gives teens and young adults the opportunity to share their views on issues that concern and influence them through monthly polls!
Almost all of the students and young people who attended the event registered directly on the platform and as new U-Reporters responded to the first poll on "What would you like from local authorities in order to make your cities more child- and youth-friendly?" The results of the poll will be taken into account for the preparation of action plans under the "Child Friendly Cities Initiative", in which the Municipality of Athens has joined as a candidate city since May 2021.
The Deputy Mayor of Social Solidarity and Civil Society of the Municipality of Athens, Ms. Katerina Gkagkaki, who honored the event with her presence, asked the students and young people who attended to share what a child-friendly city means to them. Their voices were heard loud and clear "Freedom", "Equal Rights" ," Accessibility "," Love"!
Participants shared their thoughts on the importance of democratic participation of children and young people in public matters as well as their right to free expression, leading to a productive dialogue on their rights as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Ms. Gkagkaki listened carefully to their views and concerns, praising them for their courage to express their views and use their voice to improve their communities. At the end of the presentation, she thanked them for the productive discussion and reminded them that social and political change starts from them.
The Director of the NCR, Mr. Panos Christodoulou, and the Deputy Representative of the UNICEF Greece Country Office, Ms. Aspasia Plakantonaki, were also present. Both expressed the need for adolescents and young people to be heard, something they hope will be achieved through U-Report Greece.
The Deputy Representative of UNICEF Greece Country Office, Ms. Aspasia Plakantonaki stated: “We thank all the children who attended the event at Serafio and the Municipality of Athens for their continued support. Their active participation in the discussion impressed us and we are very optimistic that U-Report will give the opportunity to young people in our country to share their views on issues that concern them, as our goal is for the youth to be part of the solution 67 for a better future."
The Director of NCR, Mr. Panos Christodoulou, also said: "Young people are the future, so it is important to encourage their participation in the public debate and to take their views seriously in the decision-making process at all levels. U-Report is an empowerment tool for the youth of our country as it is a platform that enables them to be heard and to express themselves freely. That's why we encourage everyone to sign up and make a difference in their community and their generation."
With the launch of the Greek platform, U-Report now operates in 90 countries around the world, with more than 21.5 million active U-Reporters. Children and young people in Greece can become members of U-Report Greece and participate in the first poll by sending the keyword "CITY" via Viber, Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp.
