Models of youth political participation - United Nations

Youth policies and strategies in the context of the MDGs Sub-Regional Workshop for the Gulf States Models of youth political participation by Enzo Amendola Bahrain 28-29 May 2005 Enzo Amendola • • International Union of Socialist Youth: 1999-2001 Vice-President 2001 – Secretary General International Experience: 2001 -, IUSY delegate to the UN/WB/ILO meeting 2001 -, IUSY delegate to the European Youth Forum 2001 -, member of the Council of Europe Affair Commission, YFJ 2001 -, member of the Advisory Council at the CoE 2004 -, IUSY delegate to ICMYO Models of youth participation 1)FROM THE LOCAL TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL 2) EUROPEAN LEVEL: 2.1) Open method of Coordination 2.2) Co-Management system 3) GLOBAL LEVEL Defining Youth Organisations • • • • • • Age Limit Based on Active membership Internal Democracy Independent from Government Ad-hoc and/or Structural participation Social and/or Political participation 1) From local to national level consultative model G-local youth activity A basic interest /a basic needs The action starts A local community issue action Issue based Campaign Youth issues as an horizontal policy Changing the Local community life Local campaign Local youth policy definition National network National network Ad Hoc Participation Global network Global network Structural Participation Youth participation at the local level A local community issue action Org. Issue based Campaign Org. Local Youth Council National Youth Council Youth issues as an horizontal policy Org. Confrontation with the local Institutions Relations with Institutions Local Youth Councils National Youth Council Youth issues as a horizontal policy Org. Action based on: 1. National Institutions 2. Consultation Proposal Evaluation on the Consultative Model – The priorities of the decision makers in the youth field could not be influenced by the CM till the changes – The balance between the power of the decision makers and effectiveness of the CM must be reassessed – The CM must lead to effective action at Local/ State level, in particular in order to continue to guarantee young people’s support for and commitment to the process – Young people should be consulted constantly, in a structured and effective way 2) European level First Model: Open method of Coordination and the experience of the European Youth Forum (www.youthforum.org) What is the EYF? • A pan-European platform of national Youth councils and Non-Governmental youth Organisations in Europe • Established in 1996 • 93 member organisations • Advocating for the interests of young people towards the international institutions (European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations) • Promoting the development of youth work in Europe and internationally • Providing services to member organisations European Youth Forum 93 Member Organisations INGYOs NYCs General Assembly (meets every 2 years) Bureau (12 elected volunteers) Council of Members (meets twice a year) Council of Europe Affairs Commission Working Units Secretariat European Union Affairs Commission What makes EYF different from other organisations? • The European Youth Forum is the only democratic youth structure in Europe representing youth organisations towards the international institutions mainly the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations • It serves to channel the flow of information and opinions between young people and decision-makers • It is the biggest regional youth platform in the world • It is run by young people European Youth Forum Actions • Lobby the European Institutions • Participate in the consultations on the draft common objectives, the questionnaires and the evaluation report • Draft EYF positions after consultation of Member Organisations on the common objectives • Regular meetings with the institutions (+ letters, articles and press releases) Horizontal Aspects Taking more account of youth in other policies: – inclusion of youth dimension in other policies and programmes on national and European level – explore ways in which young people can be taken into consideration in EU Commission proposals and EU Community programmes and initiatives – education, lifelong learning, mobility, employment and social integration, combating racism and xenophobia, autonomy Open Method of Coordination Since 2001 on the Youth Policy EU States National Youth policy decision EYF proposals Open method coordination (consultation) EU Commission proposals Open Method of Coordination  4 thematic priorities  Consultation – Participation – Information – Voluntary activities among young people – Greater understanding and knowledge of youth European Youth Forum is consulted on the different stages: - The formulation of the questionnaires - Drafts for common objectives in each priority area - Evaluation report of the OMC Evaluation on the OMC – The priorities of the framework of European cooperation in the youth field must be discussed (reinforcing existing priorities, new priorities, etc.) – The balance between the flexibility and effectiveness of the OMC must be reassessed – The OMC must lead to effective action at Member State level, in particular in order to continue to guarantee young people’s support for and commitment to the process – Young people should be consulted constantly, in a structured and effective way at both national and European level 2) European level Second Model: Co-Management System and the experience of the Council of Europe (www.coe.int) Democratic ideals and standards European Cultural identity Universality of Human Rights Cooperation on relevant issues for societies Key values and work fields of the Council of Europe The Council of Europe's Member States  Albania  Andorra  Armenia  Austria  Azerbaijan  Belgium  Bosnia & Herzegovina  Bulgaria  Croatia  Cyprus  Czech Republic  Denmark  Estonia  Finland  France  Georgia  Germany  Greece  Hungary  Iceland  Ireland  Italy  Latvia  Liechtenstein  Lithuania  Luxembourg  Malta  Moldova  Netherlands  Norway  Poland  Portugal  Romania  Russian Federation  San Marino  Slovakia  Slovenia  Spain  Sweden  Switzerland  the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"  Turkey  Ukraine  United Kingdom The Special Guests to the Parliamentary Assembly  Serbia and Montenegro* Members of the European Cultural Convention (non member CoE states)  Belarus  Holy See  Monaco  Serbia and Montenegro* * accepted on 03.04.2003 National Parliaments National Governments Local and Regional Authorities Parliamentary Assembly (45 National parliaments) Committee of Ministers (45 Ministers of Foreign Affairs) CLRAE (The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe) Secretariat General European Court of Human Rights (45 judges) Key bodies of the Council of Europe Key bodies of the Council of Europe Abridged Council of Europe’s Secretariat Secretary General (Terry Davis) DG Political Affairs DG I Legal Affairs DG II Human Rights DG III Social Cohesion DG IV Education Culture Youth Sport DG Administration & Logistics We are here! CoE & Youth Anti-Doping & Spectator Violence CoE Secretariat Committee of Ministers ADVISORY COUNCIL 30 Non governmental representatives JOINT COUNCIL on YOUTH QUESTIONS CDEJ 48 Non governmental representatives AC + CDEJ Ministries of Youth Youth NGOs Young people Programming Committee Governments Co-management structures of the Directorate of Youth and Sport Intergovernmental sector Co-managed sector Non-governmental sector Committee of Ministers European Steering Committee on Youth, CDEJ, 47 members, The Contracting Parties to the Cultural Convention Joint Council on Youth Questions European Youth Foundation European Youth Centres Advisory Council, AC 30 members Partial agreement on the Youth Card Working Groups 8 CDEJ & 8 AC Programming Committee 7 national youth committees Non-Formal Education and Social cohesion Activities / Services for leaders in youth organisations Study sessions Language courses Training courses Symposia Consultative meetings Documentation & research 13 international nongovernmental youth organisations Youth Forum Mobility Fund for Disadvantaged Young People Youth participation and active democratic citizenship 5 international nongovernmental youth organisations Non-Youth Forum 5 other structures Structures Intergovernmental sector Co-managed sector Non-governmental sector European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) 48 members Joint Council on Youth Questions (JC) 78 members Advisory Council (AC) 30 members Programming Committee (PC) 16 members Youth Participation Peace and Intercultural dialogue Human rights education and Social cohesion Working Priorities of the DJS 2003- 2005 Evaluation on CoManagement System – The political and economical possibilities of the CoE are limited in order to intervene with a wider range of tools on the youth conditions – The balance between the flexibility and effectiveness of the CMS must be reassessed – The CMS must lead to effective action at the Member State level, in particular in order to continue to guarantee young people’s support for and commitment to the process 3) Global level International Youth Cooperation ICMYO What is ICMYO? In Geneva in July 2004 the European Youth Forum, together with the International Movement of Catholic Students and the World Organization of the Scout Movement convened an International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations for two main objectives: o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ICFTU – International Confederation of Free Trade Unions IFLRY – International Federation of Liberal Youth, IFM/SEI – International Falcon Movement – Socialist Educational International IFMSA – International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations IFRC – International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies IMCS/MIEC – International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS Pax Romana) IYCS/JECI International Young Catholic Students IUSY – International Union of Socialist Youth WAGGGS – World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts WFDY – World Federation of Democratic Youth WOSM – World Organization of Scout Movement YDC – Youth for Development and Cooperation YMCA – World Alliance of YMCAs YWCA – World Young Women’s Christian Association YFJ – European Youth Forum ASA - Asian Students Association RAJ/AYN – Réseau Africain de la Jeunesse/African Youth Network UPJ/PYU – Union Panafricaine de la Jeunesse/Pan-African Youth Union AYU – Arab Youth Union PYC – Pacific Youth Council FLAJ – Foro Latinoamericano de Juventud/Latin American Youth Forum a) the coordination of political inputs to the ongoing political processes affecting youth worldwide b) the strengthening of the cooperation between youth organisations with a regional and global outreach. International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations Action to: exchange information, experience and concerns influence political processes and decisions of international institutions working/impacting on youth increase cooperation at the regional level in order to be stronger and overcome individual limitations work together on common thematic priorities and to put focus on global youth work o o o o Global action UN Agencies We call for: 1. Regional Institutions Open method of coordination ICMYO Reg/Global youth platform 2. CoManagement system pe MDG Thank you for your attention!