ENOC 2026: Safeguarding and Advancing the Rights of LGBTQIA+ Children
The Network's annual thematic focus for 2026 is safeguarding and advancing the rights of LGBTQIA+ children and young people.
The related activities were launched with the establishment of a special Working Group on the topic, led by the ENOC Chair-elect, Aida C. Rodríguez Gímenez (Deputy Ombudsman for Children's Rights in Catalonia, Spain), and supported by two independent experts, Ingrid Agud Morell and Angelina Sánchez Martí, Associate Professors at UAB - Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Between January and March 2026, the Working Group developed and launched a survey to assess the current state of protection of LGBTQIA+ children's rights across the ENOC membership. The research findings will be summarised in a Synthesis Report and inform ENOC's 2026 Policy Position Statement, which will be endorsed at the ENOC 30th General Assembly in Barcelona.
In February 2026, ENOC also held its annual online training on Child Participation and Child Protection when engaging with LGBTQIA+ children or allies. The training marked the launch of ENYA 2026 (European Network of Young Advisors) activities. This year's youth participation initiative is focusing on safeguarding and advancing the rights of LGBTQIA+ children or children with parents from this community. The event brought together ENYA Coordinators from across Europe and explored ways to ensure safe, inclusive and meaningful participation for all young people.
Next on our agenda: the ENOC Spring Seminar, the ENYA 2026 Forum, and the ENOC 30th Annual Conference and General Assembly in Barcelona, where members will come together to conclude on the topic of the rights of LGBTQIA+ children across Europe.
More details will follow soon.