On 21–22 May 2026, the Steering Group of the Global Campus – Right Livelihood Child Rights Cooperation gathered in Venice for two days of discussions, reflection, and exchange on the future of the partnership and the role of youth leadership in advancing human rights and social justice. Held annually, the Steering Group meeting provides strategic guidance and advice for the child rights cooperation between the Global Campus and Right Livelihood.
The meeting brought together Steering Group members, colleagues from Right Livelihood and the Global Campus, and young representatives from Nepal connected to the Child Leadership Team (CLT) and Youth Advisory Group (YAG), accompanied by their national coordinator and the Asia-Pacific Regional Child Rights Expert.
A central highlight of the first day was hearing directly from the CLT and YAG members from Nepal. Through panel discussions and informal conversations, they shared their experiences as young human rights advocates, reflecting on both the opportunities and challenges of youth participation in social movements. Their perspectives on recent political and social developments in Nepal prompted rich discussions about the role of young people in shaping political change, and about how movements across different regions can learn from one another.
The conversations also explored how institutions and international networks can meaningfully support youth-led initiatives while respecting their autonomy and leadership. Discussions on movements for human rights and climate justice encouraged participants to think collectively about how the cooperation between Global Campus and Right Livelihood can continue to accompany emerging forms of civic engagement and movement building in the years ahead.
Alongside these exchanges, the Steering Group received updates on ongoing cooperation projects and reflected on future priorities for the partnership. Participants discussed Right Livelihood’s broader strategic outlook for 2026–2031, as well as opportunities for continued collaboration across regional and thematic networks. The atmosphere throughout the meeting was constructive and collaborative, with many conversations returning to the importance of long-term relationships, solidarity, and shared learning.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to reflect on wider global developments relevant to the cooperation, including recent legal and political processes linked to climate justice and human rights advocacy. These conversations highlighted both the challenges facing human rights work globally and the importance of maintaining spaces for dialogue and collective reflection.
The programme concluded with a visit to the island of Poveglia, where participants learned about the successful grassroots mobilization that helped protect the island as a public and community-oriented space. The visit offered a fitting closing moment for the meeting: a practical example of civic participation, collective action, and long-term community engagement in practice. Participants also had the opportunity to hear more about the association’s ongoing plans and vision for the island’s future.
Overall, the Steering Group meeting offered a valuable chance not only to discuss strategy and cooperation priorities, but also to strengthen relationships across networks and generations. The presence and contributions of the young participants from Nepal were especially appreciated and served as an important reminder of the energy, insight, and commitment that young leaders continue to bring to human rights work around the world.