The first time Emilija Marinković stood up for her rights, she was a preschooler. Equipped with nothing more than a kindergarten lesson about the child’s right to play, she faced her parents with unwavering seriousness: homework could wait- her rights could not. Many years later, she laughs at the memory, but it still reminds her why knowing your rights matters.

Fifteen years after the Youth Advisory Panel of the Protector of Citizens was created, Emilija stands as one of the many young people who embody what the Panel set out to achieve. Over the years, hundreds of children and adolescents have lent their voices, ideas, and experiences to help institutions better understand and protect the rights of young people. The Panel, supported through the action “Combating discrimination and promoting diversity in Serbia” under the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye,” has become a space where youth perspectives genuinely inform change.

For Emilija, its impact cannot be summed up in a single moment. Her memories are not of milestones but of conversations, trainings, consultations, friendships, and the growing feeling that her voice mattered not only to her peers, but to the very institution tasked with protecting young people’s rights. “All the conversations, trainings and consultations are what shaped my entire experience in the Panel,” she says. “Every acquaintance, every piece of knowledge gained, every opportunity for my voice to be heard contributed to my personal intellectual development.”

Through the Panel, she discovered skills she didn’t know she possessed. Public speaking that once felt intimidating became a source of strength. Working in teams taught her to listen and lead. Step by step, she gained confidence, understanding that knowledge is not abstract: it opens doors, creates opportunities, reveals new paths forward. She values most that the Panel gives young people a space where open communication- honest feedback, criticism, praise, questions, is welcomed. “The whole point of being a panelist is to speak up, not to be afraid, and to have the courage to express your observations, your criticism and your praise,” she says. “Only through open communication can we function and achieve visible results.”

This understanding became crucial when she began to recognise forms of discrimination and violence she would once have missed. “There were many forms of violence and discrimination that I didn’t know how to recognise before the training,” she says. “And that’s where the main task of the panelists comes in- raising awareness.” That knowledge moved from theory to reality one day when a classmate at her school experienced psychological violence from a teacher. No one acknowledged it. No one intervened. But Emilija looked again and realised she had a responsibility as a witness, as a peer,  as a member of the student parliament, as part of the school’s violence-prevention team, and as a youth panelist. “I took the matter into my own hands and resolved the situation in an appropriate way with the help of the knowledge I had gained,” she recalls. “That was the moment I actually moved from theory into practice.”

As the Youth Advisory Panel marks its 15th anniversary, stories like Emilija’s show what the initiative has been able to achieve: empowered young people who recognise discrimination, respond to injustice, and use their voice with confidence. It is proof that investing in youth participation is not symbolic, it reshapes lives, strengthens communities, and builds a culture of rights that grows stronger with every generation. And contributes to block the hatred in our societies.

When asked about her future, Emilija starts with a simple truth: she wants to remain, above all, a good human being. “I want to work in the field of rights and use my full potential in that area,” she says. “I have big ambitions and believe in myself, and I want to pass that belief on to someone who might need that final push to reach their goal and achieve their dreams.”

“For me, the most important insight was realising that environmental problems are not ‘neutral’, but that they affect certain groups of people much more strongly.”

This reflection, shared by Vasilije Keranović from the Panel of Young Advisors to the Protector of Citizens, after working with students on a Council of Europe survey, captures one of the key messages emerging from the new Special Report on Youth and Environmental Rights. Presented in Belgrade, the report sheds light on how young people in Serbia increasingly understand environmental degradation as an issue closely linked to inequality, discrimination and access to rights.

“I understood that pollution, poor living conditions and climate change are most strongly felt by those who already have fewer opportunities to protect themselves or to influence decisions,” Vasilije adds. He also highlights another important takeaway from the process. “Another important fact is that many adults, especially educated people, are willing to take action on these issues.”

The survey was conducted among 1,044 primary and secondary school students across Serbia. Its findings show that more than half of respondents believe environmental degradation affects vulnerable groups the most, pushing them further to the margins of society. Students most often identified children, people living in poverty, national minorities, older people and persons with disabilities as those most exposed to environmental problems. At the same time, nearly one in three respondents were unable to identify which groups are most at risk, pointing to gaps in access to information and awareness.

These findings closely reflect the discussions Vasilije had with students while implementing the survey. Their reactions were mixed. Many welcomed the fact that the questionnaire was adapted to their language and completed via mobile phones, while others initially approached it as an informal classroom activity rather than a meaningful opportunity to express their views.

“The reactions were different,” Vasilije explains. “Students were happy that they could complete the survey on their phones and that the questions were simple and adapted to their way of speaking, but they also saw it as something informal, just an activity that takes time away from the lesson.”

At the outset, this attitude was often linked to a lack of confidence that their opinions could lead to change. “Yes, at the beginning students were uninterested and believed that their opinions would not change anything,” he says. “I explained to them that we are not only the future of the Republic of Serbia, but also its present, and that changes start with small things, such as filling in surveys like this or recycling plastic juice bottles.”

Once students began engaging more deeply with the topic, many quickly recognised the connection between environmental harm and social inequality. For Vasilije, this understanding is essential for fostering responsibility and solidarity among young people. “It is important for young people to understand these inequalities because it develops a sense of solidarity and responsibility towards others,” he says. “If we understand that environmental problems are not the same for everyone, it becomes much easier to advocate for fair solutions that bring benefits, especially to vulnerable groups.”

In his view, the survey results also reflect a broader shift among younger generations. “I think this shows how much today’s generations have progressed and that we are ready to actually do something concrete for the benefit of our country,” Vasilije adds.

Looking ahead, he believes decision-makers need to better recognise the role young people can play. “I would like decision-makers to understand that young people are not passive observers, but that they have clear views and a willingness to get involved,” he says. He underlines that the fight against discrimination and social inequalities must go hand in hand with environmental protection. “The fight against discrimination and social inequalities plays a key role in our society, especially among young people. Serbia must keep pace with the world and ensure that any form of belittling vulnerable groups is strictly sanctioned.”

Environmental protection, he concludes, is a fundamental step in the country’s development. “The fight to preserve the environment is also a key step in the development and improvement of the Republic of Serbia. If decisions are made without involving young people and without understanding how they affect the most vulnerable, those solutions will not be long-term or fair.”

The initiative is implemented within the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, in partnership with the Protector of Citizens, the Panel of Young Advisors and civil society organisations, ensuring that young people’s insights directly contribute to recommendations and future decision-making.