Do you want to advocate for and with young people towards the Council of Europe? Do you want to learn how to develop advocacy strategies, initiatives and actions that strengthen youth participation in processes to revitalise democracy? Are you a representative of a national youth council, an international youth organisation/network or youth?
The Council of Europe Youth Department organises, in partnership with the European Youth Forum and the German Federal Youth Council, a training course to strengthen the capacity of youth civil society to advocate at Council of Europe and national level for human rights and democracy for young people.
When? 17 -24 September 2023 (arrival and departure days included)
Where? European Youth Centre, Strasbourg
Aim and objectives
The training course aims to develop the competences of youth civil society and young activists to advocate for human rights, democracy, ensuring a youth perspective in all the Council of Europe work, as well as advocating for the implementation and expansion of Council of Europe standards at national and local level.
Objectives of the course:
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To familiarise participants with the Council of Europe, its institutions and standards for democracy, human rights and youth participation
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To develop participants’ competences in human rights-based advocacy and strengthen their capacity to develop and implement advocacy strategies and practices
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To create a space for sharing and learning from each other, as well as from examples of good practice in human rights and democracy advocacy, structures for youth participation in decision making, working with decision makers, etc.
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To associate participants with the Youth Department’s work, notably the project Youth revitalising democracy
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To develop common advocacy initiatives/actions, also supporting the advocacy objectives of the project Youth revitalising democracy: enhancing youth participation in the elections and removing barriers to youth standing in elections, as well as securing structures for youth participation in decision-making.
Profile of participants
The training course is designed for participants who are:
- aged between 18 and 30 years, exceptions can be made if justified;
- representatives of national youth councils, international youth organisations/networks, and other youth civil society motivated to further advocate towards and cooperate with the Council of Europe;
- holding a position in their organisations that allows to follow-up on the training course with advocacy campaigns/initiatives;
- committed to the values of the Council of Europe, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and to youth participation and are interested in taking further action;
- motivated and able to take in the entire training course and be involved in the project follow-up;
- able to work autonomously in the English language;
- are resident in one of the state parties to the European Cultural Convention; exceptions can be made if justified.
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How to apply?
All candidates must apply on-line at https://youthapplications.coe.int.
In addition to completing their application form online, they should send a support letter from their sending organisation via email at youthdemocracy@coe.int.
The full application form including the support letter from sending organisation must be submitted on-line before 14:00 (CET), 27 July 2023.
Further information
For all questions, please contact us at youthdemocracy@coe.int
