20.500.12556/RUL-186645 Inclusion of young carers and children as next of kin in participation mechanisms across Europe a rapid realist review of participation mechanisms in scientific and grey literature on the European union level and in Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Slovenia and Sweden Background The study aims to review evidence of the participation of young carers and children as next of kin in mechanisms designed to ensure youth participation in Europe. Method A rapid realist review was conducted as part of the OUR VOICES project. Results The scientific component of the review identified systemic and structural barriers, as well as individual-level barriers, that prevent children from meaningfully participating in matters affecting their lives. The grey literature review indicated that, although frameworks for child participation exist across countries, their implementation is inconsistent. Vulnerable children are neither adequately recognised nor consistently supported, and their participation often depends on local resources and political commitment. Conclusions Young carers and children as next of kin remain largely invisible as a subgroup of vulnerable children. The success of participatory mechanisms is supported by trusted, empathetic and knowledgeable adults, as well as by ensuring sufficient diversity in the modes and methods of participation to make them accessible and appealing to young people. participation mechanisms participation young carers adolescent young carers children as next of kin young informal carer vulnerable children caregiving youth mehanizmi sodelovanja sodelovanje mladi oskrbovalci otroci kot najbljižji sorodniki oskrbovalci sorodniki mladi neformalni oskrbovalci ranljivi otroci true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2026-09-03 16:58:44 2026-09-03 16:58:49 2026-09-04 04:31:03 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 43 str. article no. ǂ Vol. Jan. 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova VTisku NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 364-783.44 1471-2431 10.1186/s12887-026-07463-5 287534083 s12887-026-07463-5_reference.pdf s12887-026-07463-5_reference.pdf 1 7742E98030E0AE7BC18DF2315A534F14 038b7b3ce1085285e88e541a0890baaa01040588e15ef8844511b85044e6622a b3c7f727-a7a8-11f1-8bc5-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=245955 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-026-07463-5?utm_medium=organic_social&utm_source=partner&utm_content=null&utm_term=null&utm_campaign=CONR_JRNLS_LYLT_GL_PJNL_06PJ3_ARTPROMTK 1 faadec84-a7a7-11f1-8bc5-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=245952 Fakulteta za družbene vede 0 0 0