ENOC 2025 Annual Conference

ENOC held its 29th Annual Conference and General Assembly in Bucharest, Romania, on 17-19 September 2025. This year’s conference, entitled “Protecting and Promoting Children’s Right to Physical Health”, focused on the annual theme.

The event was co-hosted by the People’s Advocate Institution, Romania, together with the Office of the People’s Advocate for the Rights of the Child, Moldova. On this occasion, Vasile Coroi, People’s Advocate for the Rights of the Child in Moldova, formally took over the ENOC Chairmanship for 2025/2026.

The conference brought together Ombudspersons and Commissioners for Children from across Europe and beyond, alongside representatives of European and international institutions, professionals, academics, and experts committed to advancing children’s rights, with a particular emphasis on physical health.

The Annual Conference also offered the opportunity to present the results and conclusions of the ENOC Survey on the annual theme. Vasile Coroi, ENOC Chair-Elect, presented the findings of Professor Rodica Gramma (SUMPh “Nicolae Testemitanu”, Republic of Moldova) on her behalf. Her research, carried out over the past year, provided valuable insights into how children’s right to physical health can be better respected and implemented across Europe.

Young people involved in the ENYA 2025 project also played an active role in the event, presenting their recommendations developed during the ENYA Forum earlier this year.

Find out more on ENOC 2025 Annual Theme.

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Day 1

The conference opened with a plenary session chaired by Vasile Coroi, People’s Advocate for the Rights of the Child in Moldova and ENOC Chair-Elect. Opening remarks were delivered by Elina Pekkarinen, ENOC Chair and Ombudsperson for Children in Finland; Renate Weber, Ombudsperson in Romania; as well as Ewa Kopacz, European Parliament Vice-President and EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights, and Regina de Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, both via video message.

The first thematic session gathered several key contributors to discuss the realisation of children’s right to physical health at the regional and global levels. Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, Regional Director for Europe at the World Health Organisation, addressed participants in a video message. Tanja Gerwien, Co-Secretary of the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF), and Mariana Ianachevici, member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, shared perspectives on European and global frameworks for the right to health. Prof. Ann De Guchtenaere, Secretary General of the European Academy of Paediatrics (Paediatric Section of UEMS), and Bogdan Simion, President of the Federation of Non-Governmental Organizations for Children (FONPC) and member of Eurochild, concluded the session with their presentations.

The second session explored the protection of children’s right to physical health at national and local levels, with contributions from Vadim Aftene, Head of the General Policy Directorate for Integrated Medical Services, Ministry of Health, Moldova; a representative of the Romanian Ministry of Health; Helena-Omna Raicu, President of the National Authority for the Protection of Child Rights and Adoption, Romania; Gabriela Alexandrescu, Executive President of Save the Children Romania; and Galina Lesco, Head of YK Neovita, Moldova.

Later in the day, the Young Advisors from the ENYA Forum 2025 introduced their project and participation process through icebreakers and shared their personal experiences related to physical health. Danijela Zagar, ENYA General Coordinator and Advisor to the Ombudsperson for Children in Croatia, presented the Forum itself.

The first day concluded with workshops in which ENOC members presented updates from their institutions.

Day 2

The second day began with the presentation of findings from the ENOC Survey on Children’s Right to Physical Health, introduced by Vasile Coroi, People’s Advocate for the Rights of the Child in Moldova and ENOC Chair-Elect.

This was followed by the presentation of the ENYA Recommendations on Protecting and Promoting Children’s Right to Physical Health. The Young Advisors not only shared their proposals but also engaged the audience in an interactive discussion.

The next session was a panel on “Monitoring the implementation of children’s right to physical health by Independent Children’s Rights Institutions (ICRIs).” Contributions were made by Alina Pangrate, Counsellor Coordinator of the Territorial Office Constanța of the People’s Advocate in Romania, as well as representatives of three ENOC member institutions: Chris Quinn, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People; Mina Gerhardsen, Ombudsperson for Children in Norway; and Oksana Cherviakova, Deputy Commissioner for the Rights of the Child in Ukraine. Each addressed monitoring practices in their contexts.

In the afternoon, participants joined field visits. One group visited the Centre for Counselling and Integrated Services for Children and Parents from Ukraine & the Centre for Emotional and Behavioural Education for Children. A second group visited the Barnahus Centre, while a third group explored the Polizu Maternity, the largest maternity hospital in Romania.

The full report of the 29th ENOC Annual Conference will be made available soon.