As the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service announced on Wednesday, after signing the cooperation agreement, when organizing projects, public discussions, consultations or making important decisions, child rights defenders will be like young people: they will ask their opinions, insights, and wait for suggestions.
In turn, LiJOT representatives will be able to discuss and resolve with child rights defenders the issues and problems that children from educational institutions, youth employment organizations and the like will bring to them.
This is aimed at making society listen to children and young people more, their opinion will be taken into account not only in family conversations and discussions, but also in decisions made by state institutions. More favorable conditions will also be created for young people to speak, propose, discuss.
“When decisions are made, it is important that the group of society that will be most affected by these decisions participate in their adoption. Therefore, it is important for defenders of children’s rights to hear the expectations, insights, and suggestions of children and young people, which would allow them to understand how to best ensure their well-being. I have no doubt that by starting cooperation with the largest non-governmental youth organization in Lithuania, we will increase the opportunities for young people to get involved in decisions affecting children’s well-being and respond to the needs of young people”, says the director of the service, Ilma Skuodienė.
According to her, the importance of a child’s and young person’s opinion and the right to express it is enshrined in both Lithuanian and international legal acts, but it is important to constantly look for opportunities so that it is not only reflected in documents, but also implemented in reality.
According to LiJOT president Domantas Katelė, this cooperation should become a bridge of information and communication between young people, for whom it is important to actively participate in public life, and state institutions that want to enable children to express their opinion and create conditions for it to be taken into account.
“The Lithuanian Council of Youth Organizations sees a great sense of cooperation – being the largest youth organization in the country, having accumulated a large amount of experience, knowledge and competences, we want to share this with the defenders of children’s rights, so that by joining our forces, together we make important and useful decisions for all the children and youth of the country” , – says the president of LiJOT.
Until now, the service has been running the Children’s Council project for two years, in which 15 children from all over Lithuania were the advisory voice of child rights defenders. During this project, the children drew the attention of society and state institutions by making suggestions on how to improve the protection of children’s rights, education and other areas.
“The Children’s Council provided the beginnings for the inclusion of children’s voices in making important decisions. Over the course of two years, we delved into important topics, raised relevant questions and offered suggestions on how to solve the problems that children see in their environment,” says schoolgirl Aurora Degesytė, a former member of this council.
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**Interview with Ilma Skuodienė, Director of the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Ilma. Can you tell us about the recent cooperation agreement you’ve signed with LiJOT and its primary objectives?
**Ilma Skuodienė:** Thank you for having me! The cooperation agreement we signed aims to elevate the voices of children and young people in decision-making processes that affect them. By including their insights and suggestions in public discussions and project planning, we ensure that their rights are not just theoretical, but actively practiced.
**Editor:** That’s an inspiring initiative. How do you envision this cooperation actually working in practice?
**Ilma Skuodienė:** Our collaboration with LiJOT creates a structured platform for communication between young people and child rights defenders. Youth will have the opportunity to voice their concerns and ideas regarding issues that matter to them, such as matters affecting educational institutions and employment opportunities. We will work closely to address these issues collectively.
**Editor:** It’s clear that children’s voices are essential to this process. Why do you believe this perspective is crucial for developing effective policies?
**Ilma Skuodienė:** It’s vital that those most impacted by decisions—our youth—are included in the decision-making process. By listening to their expectations and insights, we can create policies and conditions that genuinely reflect their needs and promote their well-being. As stated in both Lithuanian and international legal frameworks, every child has the right to be heard.
**Editor:** Domantas Katelė mentioned that this cooperation should serve as a bridge between youth and state institutions. How do you see this bridge functioning in practical terms?
**Ilma Skuodienė:** This bridge will facilitate ongoing dialogue. It allows young people to understand how to engage with state institutions and also gives institutions a direct line to youth perspectives. We aim to create an accessible environment where young people feel empowered to participate in public life and influence the decisions that affect them.
**Editor:** what future outcomes do you hope to see from this collaboration?
**Ilma Skuodienė:** I hope this initiative leads to a cultural shift where children and young people are seen as active participants in society, not just passive subjects of policy. Ultimately, we want to ensure that their opinions shape not just family discussions but also national policies. Enhanced cooperation will facilitate better responses to the evolving needs of young people.
**Editor:** Thank you, Ilma, for sharing your insights. It sounds like a significant step forward for child participation in Lithuania.
**Ilma Skuodienė:** Thank you for shining a light on this important issue!
