How do we support and empower young people to engage in political life of our communities? What barriers and challenges are hindering youth political participation? How do young people express their political grievances today?
If you are interested in all these questions and more, if you work on these themes, then let’s get political! Apply until 17 October 2023 to join our seminar on engagement of young people in political life.
The Council of Europe Youth Department organises a seminar on engagement of young people in political life, “Let’s get political!” Aiming to contribute to empowering and supporting young people to take part in the democratic political life at local, national and European level, the seminar will bring together some 50 participants from youth organisations, national and local authorities, elected representatives, and institutions responsible with research and political education. The seminar takes place in the European Youth Centre Budapest between 27 November and 1 December 2023. The seminar is part of the project Youth revitalising democracy.
The objectives are:
- To map the barriers and challenges that young people face when trying to get politically involved, including economic, social, cultural, institutional, and legal.
- To discuss solutions to address the limited political participation of young people, including the lowering the voting age and of the age to stand in elections, the creation of independent and youth-led structures for youth participation in decision-making, deliberative democracy, etc.
- To reflect on the stigma associated with political involvement among some young people and the ways to address it.
- To explore the role played by political youth organisations in advocating for structural changes that enable youth participation and in supporting young people’s engagement in politics.
- To elaborate recommendations for actions/activities to be undertaken by the Council of Europe, as well as other international organisations, national and local authorities and civil society to advance youth political participation.
Profile of participants
The seminar is designed to bring together some 50 participants that are either:
- Representatives of, representing youth organisations and movements, including international youth organisations/networks, political party youth organisations, national youth councils and local youth councils, minority youth organisation, and any other youth civil society motivated to advocate for youth political participation, democracy and human rights
or
- Elected representatives (e.g., parliamentarians, elected members of local councils, etc.) interested in advancing youth political participation in a framework of democracy and human rights.
or
- Representatives of national and local authorities responsible for youth.
or
- Representatives of organisations/institutions involved with political education, including political foundations.
or
- Researchers focused on youth political participation in Europe.
And in addition, fulfil the following criteria:
- Are holding a position in their organisations/institutions that allows them to follow-up on the seminar.
- Are committed to the values of the Council of Europe, democracy, human rights and to youth participation and are interested in taking further action.
- Are motivated and able to take in the entire training course and be involved in the project follow-up.
- Are able to work autonomously in either English or French language.
- Are resident in one of the state parties to the European Cultural Convention; exceptions can be made if justified.
- Priority will be given to participants aged 18-30.
The Council of Europe welcomes applications from all candidates who fulfil the specific profile of the activities, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief or sexual orientation.
How to apply
All candidates must apply on-line at https://youthapplications.coe.int by 17 October 2023, 14:00
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