Young people across Europe face significant barriers to accessing their social rights, including unpaid internships, low wages, and inadequate protection in certain jobs. These challenges are intensified by broader socio-economic inequalities and discrimination, which disproportionately affect young people. Policies must be supported by adequate resources, infrastructure, and institutional capacity to achieve real impact. Youth organisations and civil society play a crucial role in grounding policy debates in lived experiences.
These were among the key messages of the Round Table "From Commitment to Implementation: Making Social Rights Real for Young People," a youth-focused side event at the High-Level Conference on Social Rights, taking place in Chisinau on 18 and 19 March 2026.
The event brought together around 50 participants, including public authority representatives, youth organisations, members of parliament, civil society actors, and development partners from Europe and the Republic of Moldova.
Aoife Nolan, President of the ESCR, emphasised that the European Social Charter serves as Europe's "social constitution," establishing enforceable rights to work, housing, healthcare, and social protection. She stressed that social rights require measurable progress and effective implementation, not just aspirational commitments.
Youth participation was identified as a critical factor. "One cannot speak about participation without social rights, and about social rights without participation", underlined Emma Wedner, a member of the Advisory Council on Youth. She also presented the Youth Sector's co-management model and the Reference Framework on Youth Perspective, crucial to the shaping of shared and democratic future.
National youth stakeholders noted Moldova's efforts to align policies with European standards and expand opportunities for young people. However, ongoing structural constraints, limited financial and institutional capacity, urban-rural disparities, and the pace of reforms, continue to affect implementation.
The review of the ENTER! Recommendation highlighted a gap between policy frameworks and young people's lived realities. Existing mechanisms are often fragmented, insufficiently visible, or too slow to address emerging needs. Improved coordination across sectors and stronger youth structures, such as youth councils, are essential.
The event was organised by the project "Youth for Democracy and Human Rights in the Republic of Moldova," part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2025-2028, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Research and the National Youth Agency.
