Youth Democracy Cohort’s Post

 KEY TASK 4 - Managing youth participation in decision-making and validating its impact Tanya Basarab, Research and Youth Policy Officer in the EU-CoE youth partnership, shared her perspective on the main challenges municipalities face in managing youth participation and validating its impact. She explains why it is essential for municipalities to assess and recognise the influence of youth participation, emphasising that robust evaluation mechanisms ensure young people’s voices are heard and their contributions are reflected in the outcomes that shape their communities. The reference framework is a tool designed to empower municipalities to strengthen their governance processes and develop mechanisms to evaluate and validate the impact of youth participation.  Check it out on our website:  https://lnkd.in/de32xF-n

Last week I had the opportunity to contribute to the work of the upcoming reference framework on introducing the youth perspective in the work of various sectors within the Council of Europe and beyond. This is NOT just merely dragging a 20-year old to your committee meeting to give a 2-minute intervention (which would be tokenism and unfortunately, a frequent phenomenon), BUT understanding how inequitable structures and processes in democratic deliberations and policy-making may leave the interests of young people behind AND make active, effective and ethically-sound steps to overcome these pitfalls and barriers.

Have your say about the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 (by 15 August) Are you between 15-29 years old? Then, we are keen to hear your views on certain aspects of the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027. The deadline is extended to 15 August. The Strategy aims to encourage young people to participate in democratic life, support social and civic engagement, and ensure that all young people have the resources they need to play an active part in society. Your answers will be included in the next EU Youth Report on the progress of the Strategy during the years 2022-2024. They will complement results of other consultations to provide a better picture of young people’s views and how to give young people a stronger voice in EU policymaking. Share your feedback via the online survey by 15 August. The survey is available in all EU languages.

💡Lesson from #YouthLedResearch #4 Youth engagement is a strategy for promoting peace and security: Integrating youth and providing them with a sense of belonging to the political system promotes stability within it. What are the key policies? 1️⃣Quality education and empowerment of youth 2️⃣Institutionalising youth in public affairs 3️⃣Promoting human rights of young people Discover how these policies are implemented to make a positive change: https://ow.ly/WLUX50SsG6Y

"The Youth Convo 2025" an upcoming political and national forum designed to engage young people in discussions about important issues affecting their futures. This event typically aims to: 1. Empower Youth Voices: Providing a platform for young people to share their opinions, ideas, and solutions on political, social, and economic issues. 2. Promote Civic Participation: Encouraging youth involvement in governance, policymaking, and national development. 3. Build Networks: Connecting youth leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to foster collaborations for change. 4. Focus on Future Challenges: Addressing pressing topics like climate change, technology, employment, education, and global peace from the youth's perspective. 5. Educate the youth in the legal framework of the Country. And the need for a new Constitutional review. The Youth Convo,... Changing the narrative #ChangingNarratives .

🌟 I SAY YES TO YOUTH IN PARLIAMENT! 🌟 Half the world’s population is under 30, yet only 2.8% of MPs globally represent this age group. It's time for a change. The IPU has identified six impactful ways to make our parliaments younger and more inclusive. I'm committed to this cause and I urge you to join me in supporting youth representation. Take just two minutes to pick one or more pledges to help make this change a reality! 📜 Pledges to Consider: Promoting youth quotas Aligning the age of eligibility with that of voting Supporting youth channels in parliament Empowering young parliamentarians Mentoring young aspirants Advocating for youth participation Let's take action and ensure that our parliaments reflect the voices and aspirations of all generations. Together, we can create a brighter and more inclusive future. 🌍💪 #YouthInParliament #FutureLeaders #InclusiveGovernance #IPU #YouthEmpowerment

Youth deserve to have a voice at the table. Everyone needs to hear the youth's perspective about certain issues. When it comes to conflict the youth are the most vulnerable, when it comes to human rights violations the youth are the most affected. The youth should not be only limited to simulations and “Model UN Programs”. But we should also be involved in real issues and we should be in discussions with officials in real meetings. Being a youth delegate to the UN has shown me that the youth have a voice in foreign policy. As an advocate, we engage in discussions with officials about issues that concern our generation. I am so grateful for all the opportunities I have in representing the youth. To help create a better world, we must fight for progressive policies. Our world is not getting any better, not all communities are properly represented. We need more youth voices, we need to fight for our future. We the youth feel the same things the older generation feels. What makes us less knowledgeable? We do not need a lot of academic or work experience to experience misogyny and discrimination. We have the right to be at the table when it comes to important issues like human rights. Because we are human too and it is about time for youth perspectives to be on the table. To save our future and our world, we must fight for a sustainable world. #foreignpolicy #internationalrelations #leadership #politics #womensrights #youthempowerment

Dear network, The European Commission is seeking feedback from young people. Could you help me spread the word ? Are you between 15-29 years old? We are keen to hear your views on certain aspects of the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027. The  Strategy encourages young people to participate in democratic life and supports social and civic engagement. Your answers will help us giving young people a stronger voice in EU policymaking. https://lnkd.in/eccrkSnh Survey available in all EU languages. Académie Notre Europe; European Youth Forum

Speaking at the reception marking 10 years of the Rejuvenating Politics programme within the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. This initiative has empowered 419 youth delegates over the past decade, giving young people a meaningful role in shaping local and regional governance. To face the major societal trends and changes ahead, it’s not enough to simply hear from young people. We must build their capacity to think critically, collaborate effectively, and deliver policies that foster long-term, consistent improvement. Youth engagement must focus on equipping them with the skills and insights needed to contribute meaningfully and sustain progress over time. If you haven’t yet explored ways to meaningfully engage 18 to 30 year olds in your own work, I encourage you to reach out. It isn't always easy, but they are the ones that will be shaping the policies, organisations, and direction of the next decades, so it's a worthwhile endeavour.

Today's plenary was a remarkable success! We engaged in a vibrant debate on the motion: "Extending the youth age limit to 40 years in the National Youth Policy." It was a rich and thought-provoking discourse. I want to commend my colleagues who passionately handled the motion, as well as those who seconded and opposed it, contributing to a well-rounded discussion. #AfricanaLeague #NigeriaHouseOfCommons #YouthPolicy #AgeLimitDebate #YouthEmpowerment #YouthLeadership #PolicyChange #InclusiveGovernance #YouthInPolitics #NigeriaYouthVoices #NationBuilding #FutureLeaders #PolicyDebate #NigeriaYouthPolicy