Content
I. Seat at the Table – Sustainable Structures for Youth Participation
II. Protecting Youth, Activism and Civil Society – Protecting Democracy
III. A Look in the Mirror – Good and Reliable Governance
I. Seat at the Table – Sustainable Structures for Youth Participation
Meaningful participation requires resourced, impactful and sustainable participatory structures that last. Whether it is a local bus lane or the deliberations of the EU Youth Dialogue, young people deserve a seat at the table where decisions about their future are being made.
1. EU Youth Dialogue in dialogue
We deserve a better EU Youth Dialogue – and right now there is momentum to reach for it. The EU Youth Dialogue needs to be in dialogue with decision makers, decision-making and young people.
The EU Youth Dialogue should be…
IMPACTFUL.
- We need a clear process and picture of the dialogue and its purpose. Without a strategy it is hard to play towards a common goal.
- We need better communication between young people and the governance of the EUYD on how and why their contributions and work mattered: impact assessments with young people
- We need to put the data and information collected during the cycle into better use.
IN DIALOGUE WITH DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES AND DECISION MAKERS.
- The EUYD should be linked to real decision-making processes: we should utilize the process and structure of the EUYD in decision making with processes happening within the EU and address timely issues and topics, bringing young voices to the decision-making tables. Not just talk about the same topics and policy recommendations year after year
- INGYOs hold unique and vital expertise on a wide range of topics – and a EUYD with INGYOs included is a better, more impactful and more diverse dialogue
- Decision makers should be more involved and closer to the EUYD: not just during the conferences but during the whole cycle
2. Youth Councils and Organizations Bringing Basting Change
My journey started from local children’s parliaments and youth councils and my biggest dream is that every child and young person would have the same opportunities that I’ve had. Protected, mandated, resources, sustainable structures all levels from the local and regional levels to national and international arenas build trust and bring forward young voices otherwise left unheard.
We need…
LOCAL AND REGIONAL YOUTH COUNCILS
that are not just for show and that consist of youth, are chosen by youth and are led by youth. We should secure young people’s rights to participatory structures right where they live by making sure that local and regional youth councils are
- chosen by youth, led by youth and consist of youth
- mandated by law
- resourced and given real power! E.g. seats at city councils and committees and rights to present motions at the city council
RECOGNISED AND INFLUENTIAL NYCs AND INGYOs IN ALL FORUMS.
We need to provide more spaces for NYCs and INGYOs to connect and make a difference: to share best practices, tell about themselves and their governance and current situations and challenges.
Non-formal education, youth work and volunteering deserves recognition in education, work, intuitions and governance. There is so much value in the youth sector and what it brings to society and gives to young people and that needs to be recognized.
→ A reform of Made in MOs sessions – more spaces to connect, pitch and share with a lower threshold
II. Protecting Youth, Activism and Civil Society – Protecting Democracy
We are living in times of uncertainty where millions of young people are being robbed of their rights and possibilities to dream of a better life and future. Civil society, youth organizations and young advocates are under threat as democracies falter and human rights and the rule of law are questioned. The European Youth Forum’s job is to stand up for every young person everywhere and for their right to build their lives in the way they want and be themselves while doing it, even in the face of exclusion and discrimination.
We have to protect and support those facing bigotry and scrutiny. We need to call for better protection of young activists and support to youth organizations, especially from the institutions they work in or with. It is unacceptable to have to fear for yourself and your loved ones just for standing up for what you believe in and taking part in society. Youth activism should be recognized and valued because without young people, we have nothing – no democracy, no progress, no future.
1. Being Bold in Our Activism
We need to be more bold in order to build a resilient, secure and peaceful tomorrow. We need to step up in taking up space in the current political climate to show how essential young people, youth organisations and the youth sector are even in times of crisis.
We need…
A STRONGER EPHASIS AND FOCUS ON YOUTH, PEACE AND SECURITY AGENDA
Right now, discussions are being had about security without young people even though it is our future that is being talked about. Young people and civil society are essential and crucial to building resilient societies that can weather any storms – we build capacity to take action, bring together communities and make people feel like they matter.
We have to be bold and take up space everywhere – showing that without young people we have nothing and no tomorrow. Lasting peace cannot be built without young people and we are always needed in all decision-makeing tables.
→ Highlighting the YPS agenda during the mid-term evaluation of the strategy and updating and expanding the YPS policy paper.
TO USE OUR MEMBERSHIP TO ITS FULLEST EXTENT – COMBINE FORCES AND SHOW A UNITED FRONT
- Integrate and use motions made by MOs to their fullest extent in our advocacy and work
- Be more transparent about how we utilize and appreciate the work MOs put into our platform
- Better the communication we have with our MOs: we need to better recognize the expertise relying within our MOs – networks, good practises, expertise
→ More transparency on how motions made by MOs are used and integrated to advocacy: updates on approved motions and their use
→ Mapping out the expertise of MOs: a library of members, their expertise, networks and work areas
2. Protecting Youth and Youth Organizations
We need to better protect young activists, youth organisations and civil society because there is no future and no democracy without them.
We need to…
PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUNG ACTIVIST BETTER – REACT AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
There is no participation or democracy without protecting those participating. And without protection of young activists and advocates, there is no youth participation and the societies of tomorrow will be worse for it.
- Reactive advocacy when needed and collaboration within the platform to support our partners
- Institutions need to be responsible in protecting the young people they want to include and hear
→ Joined and centered advocacy calls to MOs when help is needed in order to collaborate better on statements and advocacy
→ Highlighting the responsibility of institutions on this matter in our advocacy
FUND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AND CIVIL SOCIETY.
There is no democracy without civil society and there is no civil society without funding. We need funding that is…
- stable: keeping youth organizations running and letting them concentrate on their main tasks instead of focusing on finding funding after funding and project after a project
- diverse: different kinds of needs require diverse funding sources, e.g. emergency funding in hostile environments, small grants to bigger ones depending on need
- accessible: grants should be accessible to apply, govern and report! big co-funding requirements impose barriers especially to organizations with little resources and complicated application processes are not accessible to all
→ Advocate for stable, diverse and accessible funding, explore ways to achieve and advocate for emergency funding to youth organizations in hostile environments
III. A Look in the Mirror – Good and Reliable Governance
The European Youth Forum relies on its mandate to represent its members and through them, tens of millions of young people all over Europe. That mandate and the integrity of the Youth Forum as a representative body and organization is built on trust, ideas, values and a reputation that shouldn’t be taken for granted. The largest platform of youth organizations in the world should be able to bring young people together, not to fight each other, but to fight together for a better tomorrow.
Over the last few years the platform has, unfortunately, not been a truly collaborative and safe space it needs to be in order to excel at its purpose. When a platform’s focus and time goes towards its inner struggles and politics, it is easy to lose sight of our purpose and shared values, and the potential of progress that could come from them.
It is time to stop and take a long look in the mirror on the kind of organization and platform the European Youth Forum wants to be and what steps need to be taken to better it. The platform needs concrete changes in the way it operates and is governed all the way from elections to rules of procedures, accountability and conflict resolution.
I won’t hesitate or falter in the face of conflict or hardships and I am willing to work and collaborate together with the MOs for structural changes to the platform, to make sure it is possible to have conversations, even tough ones, in a safe and inclusive way.
We need…
1. A Comprehensive Evaluation of Procedures, Elections and Safeguarding
The system that the YFJ operates on, is not working – and we see that every few years in the form of blow outs and conflicts. I want to change that: build back the trust within the organization with transparency, constructive dialogue and evaluations of how we operate. We need to build a solid foundation that allows the platform to debate and work in a safe environment and in a safe way so everyone feels supported and encouraged to speak up. We also need to assess and prepare better during times that require it: we can’t just watch as GAs fall into chaos and members are left in the dark.
Yearly elections significantly influence the culture and atmosphere of the platform – we need to make sure they run as smoothly and as fairly as possible. We need better guidelines and procedures relating to elections – a more transparent and fair process with clear rules and an even playing field.
→ Creating fair elections guidelines – a guide and a rulebook on how the organisation, candidates, MOs etc. navigate the election season
Opening back up the conversation on how we vote on elections: we need to make sure that we have full boards and that the voting system is transparent, fair and encouraging of fair and honest elections
→ Assessing with the membership the past voting method evaluations and how and if any changes could better the functionality of the platform
We need to be prepared and stay ready for conflict and challenges.
- Identifying risks and future challenges before GAs, statements, publications
- Preparing our GA co-chairs better for conflict and tough spots
- Reviewing spaceguarding policies, rules of procedures, the statues, internal rules and their use
2. Strong, Reliable and Transparent Leadership
Leadership of the platform is measured in the tough spots – by taking accountability, making tough decisions and being honest when it is needed. The trust, integrity or culture of the platform is not where it should be for us to fight together for youth rights. We need bold, reliable and honest leaders to build that trust back and to find common solutions with the membership to implement changes to the way the organisation is governed so the platform can function with its full potential for years to come.