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DG Democracy
Directorate of Democratic Participation
Youth Department
THINK YOUTH| No 104 - June 2022
Youth Action Week: young people call on European governments to step up action to revitalise democracy
Youth Action Week: young people call on European governments to step up action to revitalise democracy

Young people should stand up against populism, nationalism and extremism that risk silencing their voices, says Secretary General at the opening of the Youth Action Week on Tuesday 28 June 2022.

The Council of Europe’s Youth Action Week concluded on Friday 1 July 2022 with a presentation by the participants of a call for action directed to national governments to step up the actions and policies to revitalise democracy with the participation of young people. The 450 young people who took part emphasised the need for public authorities to live up to their commitments and to effectively engage young people in “democratising democracy”.

The role of education for democratic citizenship and human rights is central to seriously involving younger generations and entrusting them with improving democratic processes. The participants also recalled that a democratic culture should guarantee diversity of opinions and possibility of dissent and peaceful protest, and that conflicts in a democratic society ought to be resolved by non-violent means.

The 50-point call for action, corresponding to the 50 years of the Council of Europe’s youth sector, is centred around the four main themes of the Youth Action week: Revitalising democracy and access to rights; Meaningful youth participation; Digitalisation, and Peacebuilding.

The final text of the 50-point call for action will be available on the Youth Sector’s website by Friday 8 July 2022.

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Happy 50th Birthday to the Council of Europe youth sector – full of energy!
Happy 50th Birthday to the Council of Europe youth sector – full of energy!

In 1972, the Council of Europe invited young people into the organisation by establishing the ground-breaking co-managed governing structure. At the same time, the European Youth Foundation was established and has since financially supported thousands of youth-led projects for millions of young people. The European Youth Centre in Strasbourg opened its doors to young people and has since been the starting point of their advocacy work for democracy and human rights for hundreds and thousands of young people. The European Youth Centre in Budapest, the Youth Partnership with the European Commission and the intergovernmental cooperation setting youth policy standard setting complete the interconnected instruments of the Council of Europe youth sector.

The birthday was celebrated looking to the future with 450 young people during the Youth Action Week of the campaign "Democracy here -democracy now". For most of the participants this was their very first contact with the Council of Europe and their collective work is reflected in 50 Action Points to ‘democratise democracy’ on national and local levels.

The humongous birthday cake was cut in the spirit of the youth sector jointly by young participants, members of the Joint Council on Youth and the Secretariat, representatives of the City of Strasbourg, the Irish Presidency and the European Youth Forum. In her speech, Antje Rothemund, the Head of the Youth Department underlined the major contribution young people make in building a peaceful and cohesive Europe. She also stressed the important impact of previous youth sector campaigns such as the “all different- all equal campaign” against racism, antisemitism, xenophobia and intolerance or the No Hate Speech campaign, and underlined that with the Democracy here – democracy now campaign young people will once again raise awareness on a threat to our societies. She thanked all partners and staff, previous and present generations, for their commitment to human rights and democratic values and for making the voice of young people heard.

Have a look at the photo galleries! ›
HRM King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands meets with young people in the European Youth Centre Strasbourg (EYCS)
European Youth Centre Strasbourg - 23 June 2022
HRM King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands meets with young people in the European Youth Centre Strasbourg (EYCS)

HRM King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands visited the European Youth Centre Strasbourg where he engaged in a round table discussion with young people from the Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ), the non-governmental partner in the co-managed decision-making system, and youth delegates from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

During the visit, His Majesty the King and Franc Weerwind, the Minister for Legal Protection, had a lively and open exchange with the young people on what motivates them to participate in decision-making processes and about the unique co-management system in the Council of Europe, but also to discover what obstacles they face to their participation.

His Majesty’s visit was an opportunity for him to discover the work of the youth sector and the European Youth Centre Strasbourg and its unique architecture which symbolises the open spirit of the Council of Europe’s youth policy, and provides a unique space for young people.

Read more on HRM visit to the EYCS ›
Member States hold informal exchange of views with representatives of civil society
Member States hold informal exchange of views with representatives of civil society


At an informal meeting on 1 July 2022, delegations from the Council of Europe’s 46 member States held an exchange of views with representatives of youth civil society organisations.

They discussed how to overcome the obstacles to inviting young people and youth organisations to the policy-making table, as well as existing positive examples of co-operation with youth civil society in developing non-binding legal instruments in the Council of Europe. Present and former members of the Advisory Council on Youth and the Chairperson of the Joint Council on Youth made a solid contribution to the exchange.

The exchange of views was part of the follow-up to a series of decisions taken by the Committee of Ministers, notably at its 132nd Ministerial Session (Turin, 19-20 May 2022), to strengthen the participation of civil society organisations in the work of the Council of Europe.

Read more on the informal exchange ›
 Training Course on Human Rights Education for youth centres in the Council of Europe Quality Label network
European Youth Centre Budapest 21 June 2022
Training Course on Human Rights Education for youth centres in the Council of Europe Quality Label network

The annual training course for the youth centres in the network of the Council of Europe Quality Label for Youth Centres was organised at the European Youth Centre Budapest on 13-17 June 2022. The course was attended by educational staff and youth workers from 11 labelled and candidate youth centres.

The thematic focus of this year’s training was on the impact of crisis on young people and youth centres, on creating and applying non-formal educational tools to meet new realities, and on networking and cooperation among Quality Labelled Youth Centres, with the purpose of raising the quality of youth work and services that Quality Labelled Youth Centres offer to young people.

This year’s course was a continuation of the long-term training strategy introduced in 2020 with the purpose of enabling programme coordinators and youth workers to enhance the non-formal education approach they use in their daily work and to support the development and planning of educational activities in the coming years.

Young people Navigating Transitions in changing realities
Young people Navigating Transitions in changing realities
On 21-23 June, the EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership held the symposium Navigating Transitions: adapting policies to young people’s changing realities in Tirana, the European Youth Capital 2022.

The symposium was opened by Matjaž Gruden, Director of Democratic Participation at the Council of Europe and Sophia Eriksson Waterschoot, Director for Youth, Education and Erasmus+ at the European Commission, Erion Veliaj, Mayor of Tirana welcomed all participants to the European Capital of Youth.

Participants explored how large societal challenges such as Covid-19, shrinking space for civil society, economic downturn, war in Ukraine impact young people’s lives on political, economic, social and personal levels and which policy changes are needed to better support youth transitions in today’s Europe.

Have a look at the symposium website for more information about the event and watch the video to learn more about youth transitions. Stay tuned, more resources are coming soon!

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Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Youth work in war time
Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Youth work in war time

On 9 June an introductory meeting for local consultants of the project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase II” was organised so they could get acquainted with the results of the study on needs and challenges of youth workers in Ukraine. 

The project of the Council of Europe “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase II” launched a call to provide support for youth centres, local communities, and youth NGOs in Ukraine in updating local programmes with the participation of young people in war time. A meeting of youth centres was organised to exchange experience of youth work during the war and further steps needed to strengthen the participation of young people, including internally displaced people. On 14 June, youth workers and youth policy makers took part in the workshop "Youth work during the war. How to make (un)usual formats meaningful and relevant to increase youth participation?".

A special course for youth workers in Ukraine on burnout prevention, compassion fatigue and psychological assistance in crisis situations is being prepared by the Ministry of Youth and Sport within the programme "Youth Worker". 

The Steering committee meeting of the project took place online on 21 June and confirmed the relevance and need to continue supporting youth work and youth centres. A revised work plan of the project was adopted to last until December 2022.

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EYF funded Youth projects in the spotlight: “Youth participation matters”, by the NGO Youth and Civil Initiatives in the Rose Valley, Bulgaria
EYF funded Youth projects in the spotlight: “Youth participation matters”, by the NGO Youth and Civil Initiatives in the Rose Valley, Bulgaria

Youth participation starts at local level! Building on the need to rebuild trust with democratic processes, the project included a training course of three days for twenty students and five teachers from five high-schools in the Karlovo and Sopot municipalities about democracy and youth participation. Participants will then develop research and awareness raising activities for more young people.

Stiliyana Toncheva, 19 years old, is a volunteer of this project: “For me these projects are important because they are a great way to meet new people and go out of your comfort zone.”

Stella commented: "our project was really inclusive. We had people from Roma and Turkish ethnic minorities who face intolerance. It was a great way to make everyone feel part of the project group“. Stella also attended the Youth Action Week. “I am really proud for this opportunity to learn so many things, from so many people from different countries. This campaign is very useful because many young people are not interested in politics, they should know more”, she commented. “Youth participation is worth it, because everything is in young people’s hands!”, she concluded.

This project was supported by the European Youth Foundation, through its special call within the Campaign “Democracy Here. Democracy Now”.

Youth policy advisory mission to Andorra
Youth policy advisory mission to Andorra

A youth policy advisory mission took place on 9-10 June in Andorra, with a view to helping  the Government of Andorra, namely the Department of Childhood, Adolescence and Youth improve their national youth policies.


To get a better understanding of the functioning of the youth sector in Andorra, a delegation of four members, including Miriam Teuma, Chair of the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) Jean-Marie Bouverat (CDEJ member in respect of Switzerland),  Armine Movsesyan, member of the Advisory Council of Youth, and Sladjana Petkovic, PEYR researcher, accompanied by Clementina Barbaro from the Council of Europe Youth Department, met Joan-Marc Joval, Minister of Culture and Sport; the representatives of the Department of Childhood, Adolescence and Youth and of other relevant Ministries; and staff members of all the Andorran Youth Centres.

The visit allowed the delegation to acquire precious information about the plans to draft a national youth strategy and possible areas of improvement in the youth sector.  A report containing concrete and practical recommendations in the immediate and medium terms is being drafted for the authorities and will be later on discussed with them. This mission is part of the broad range of bilateral measures provided by CDEJ and the Youth Department to support the development and/or improve national youth polices. 

Read more on youth policy advisory missions ›
Education for Life - Compass national training course in Lithuania

The Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights in cooperation with the Council of Europe Youth Department organised Compass “Education for Life: Human Rights Themes and Methods for Working with Youth" National Training Course in Human Rights Education from 20 to 24 June in Antalieptė, Lithuania. 

Education for Life - Compass national training course in Lithuania

The Course gathered twenty teachers and non-formal education practitioners from various regions of Lithuania to work together and to learn about the developments of human rights education and democratic values. The focus of the training course was to equip participants with skills, knowledge, and the attitude needed to become multipliers for the implementation of human rights education activities with young people in formal and non-formal education sectors.
Read more on the Compass national training courses ›
Compasito: Human Rights Education with children in Bulgaria
Compasito: Human Rights Education with children in Bulgaria
The Infinite Opportunities Association in partnership with the Youth Department of the Council of Europe hosted a the Training Course “Compasito, Human Rights education with children” from 19 to 23 June 2022 in Lozen, Bulgaria.


The course sought to invest in capacity building and networking among youth leaders and primary and secondary education teachers by providing safe environment for deepening their knowledge, attitudes and skills for proactive, dedicated and passionate multiplication of Human Rights Education with children. The activity course took place on the premises of the Red Cross and gathered 30 youth workers, teachers, psychologists, and school counsellors, all working with vulnerable children and youth in support of diversity, tolerance and inclusion. The final day of the course was dedicated to networking, creating synergies, and partnership building to set up a community of human rights educators around Bulgaria.

Understanding Human Rights – Compass national training course in Bulgaria
Understanding Human Rights – Compass national training course in Bulgaria


“Rights to Childhood” Foundation in cooperation with the “Young Pedagogue/Social Pedagogue” club at the University of Ruse, organised the Compass National Training Course on Human Rights Education “Understanding Human Rights” from 6 to 10 June, in Ruse, Bulgaria.

The course aimed to deepen understanding of human rights, democracy and the rule of law and prevention of human rights violations among university students, teachers and youth leaders. The thematic areas of the workshops and sessions of the course were about hate speech/hate crime, gender equality/gender-based violence, social inclusion and the right to education with a special emphasis on the right to human rights education. Further steps on promoting the education on human rights were agreed among participants who designed follow up activities to implement.
Sustainable Development Goals and young people with disabilities: What Can We Do?
Sustainable Development Goals and young people with disabilities: What Can We Do?

Sustainable Development Goals and Youth with Disabilities: What Can We Do? – was the title of the study session held in cooperation with the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) held from 13 to 18 June 2022 at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg.

The study session gathered young people with different (dis)abilities and their support persons from all over Europe. During six days the participants were inclusively learning more about human rights and sustainable development goals and how to use them for advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. Participants were introduced with new tools to discover how they can strengthen the capacity of youth organisations, so they can empower youth with disabilities to be more active in decision making processes at local and national levels. Finally, they brainstormed and planned the follow up actions which will be implemented in their local communities and beyond.

Voices of youth
The study session “Voices of youth” took place at the European Youth Centre Budapest on 18-25 June 2022, led by Don Bosco Youth-Net (DBYN), in collaboration with the Youth Department of the Council of Europe.
Voices of youth

It aimed to further the work of DBYN volunteers in the area of representation, through building capacity for human rights advocacy. For this year's study session, the topic was adapted to digital times and the participants explored advocacy both online and offline. As a follow-up of the activity, participants planned their own advocacy campaigns.
Youth Work Lab
Youth Work Lab

The “Youth Work Lab” study session was held at the European Youth Centre Budapest from 6 to 10 June 2022. Co-organised by the Erasmus Student Network, the activity aimed at empowering the participants to make the (first) steps towards the recognition of youth work and competencies of youth workers by cooperating with the key actors on the local, regional and national levels. 

Through non-formal education, thirty  participants, ESN volunteers from all over Europe, discussed the challenges faced by youth workers, explored youth work recognition and got acquainted with the relevant policy standards and recommendations. They worked together on the creation of a Youth Work Toolkit, which will be promoted among the organisation to better advocate for the recognition of youth work and youth work competencies.

Youth Work Lab
Rights for Inclusion

The study session “Rights for Inclusion” was held between 30 May and 3 June at the European Youth Centre Budapest. Organised by WostAYN (World Armenian Youth Network), the activity aimed to raise the quality of youth work promoting and supporting access to social rights and contribute to an inclusive European society.

The participants from 10 European countries explored the concepts of human rights and social rights and got acquainted with the relevant Council of Europe policy standards, including the ENTER! Recommendation. The programme also included inputs from experts on social inclusion, advocacy, Armenian diaspora issues and practical youth work and youth rights. A position paper as well as its implementation plan was developed by the participants.

YOU ARE THE VOICE! - Citizenship and human rights education in Azerbaijan
YOU ARE THE VOICE! - Citizenship and human rights education in Azerbaijan
“You are the voice!” is an activity within the framework of the Compass national training courses on Human Rights Education in Azerbaijan.

From 25 to 28 May in Ganja, from 6 to 9 June in Samukh and from 26 to 29 June in Goygol the course involved 18 youth leaders in each city. The activities raised awareness of young people on human rights and promote democratic citizenship values in youth work for strengthening civil society. It provided an overview of the common understanding of basic principles and methodologies of human rights education, together with a relevant principles of youth participation. The participants explored the concepts of human rights, human rights education and their interrelationships, and got acquainted with the relevant approaches of the Council of Europe policy standards on youth work.

These trainings highlighted the importance of equality, democratic citizenship in human dignity and developed knowledge and competences of participants on human rights education by applying the Compass manual for their future initiatives. The participants presented project ideas on the importance of gender equality, tolerance and solidarity as follow up to the course.
Human Rights Activism in post-pandemic reality

The No Hate Speech Network held a study session in cooperation with the Council of Europe from 30 May to 3 June 2022 at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg.

Human Rights Activism in post-pandemic reality

The participants discussed challenges for activism in post-pandemic reality, human rights education as activism tool and importance of mental health. The study session aimed to empower youth workers and youth activists to challenge hate speech, nationalism and intolerance through human rights education values and approaches. The activity concluded with a set of guidelines on Human Rights Activism in post-pandemic reality.
New podcasts: Youth Action Week
New podcasts: Youth Action Week

The EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership supports the Youth Action Week through its Under 30’ podcast series.

What is the campaign and why was it launched? What is the purpose of the Youth Action Week? How does revitalising democracy actually look on the ground and in practice?


How does the European Youth Foundation support local and international projects in the framework of the Democracy Here, Democracy Now campaign?

To find answers to these and more, listen to the two new podcast episodes:

- Youth Action Week with Alice Bergholtz, Advisory Council on Youth and Ruxandra Pandea, campaign co-ordinator: Podcast and video
- Young People Revitalising Democracy with with Gabriella Sesti Osseo (Fantapolitica) and Sophie Spickenbom (WOSM) : Podcast and video

Pop the Bubble!
Pop the Bubble!

Learning mobility activities in the youth field are restarting following the two years of break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to celebrate the return of youth mobility projects, the European Platform on Learning Mobility (EPLM) has launched the PopTheBubble campaign with an online event on 9 June. The campaign features the experiences of youth workers, young people, trainers, facilitators and youth organisations during and post-pandemic. 

Have a look at the  EPLM page and listen to the podcast episode Restarting youth learning mobility – quality tools in practice of the EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership.

Pop the Bubble!
New video: Covid-19 Knowledge Hub

The Covid-19 pandemic and related measures significantly interrupted young people’s lives. At the EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership, through the networks of the European Knowledge Centre for Youth Policy (EKCYP) and the Pool of European Youth Researchers (PEYR), since March 2020, we have been exploring the effects of the pandemic on young people and the youth sector across Europe, launching the Covid-19 Knowledge Hub in October 2020.

The Hub features resources on nine areas affecting young people’s lives: social inclusion, youth participation, youth work, education, training and learning mobility, health, mental health and wellbeing, employment and professional development, digitalisation and AI, youth organisations, and national context and realities.

Watch the new video and have a look at the resources in the Hub.

EKCYP and PEYR in-person after 3 years
EKCYP and PEYR in-person after 3 years

On 24 June, the two research networks of the EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership (EKYCP and PEYR) met in Tirana for their annual meeting.

They discussed the policy priorities of the partner institutions, ongoing research projects and assessed future research needs, based on the current context and its impact on the youth sector at European and national levels. Research needs and knowledge exchange are important contributors to policy-making in the youth sector in Europe and the two networks are more engaged with the European policy developments than before.

See you after the summer!
See you after the summer!
Your Think Youth newsletter will come back end of August, till then, we wish you a good summer season!
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Upcoming Activities
  • 18-22 July 2022 European Youth Centre Budapest, Study visit and training seminar for staff of youth centres of Azerbaijan
  • 22-27 August 2022 European Youth Centre Budapest, Study session - Advocating for our Rights Through Leadership - in cooperation with the International Federation of Hard of Hearing Young People (IFHOHYP)
 
Useful links

The CoE Directorate General Democracy
The CoE Youth Portal
European Youth Centre Budapest
European Youth Centre Strasbourg
European Youth Foundation
Intergovernmental Cooperation
The EU-CoE Youth Partnership

Facebook pages

Advisory Council on Youth
Council of Europe - Youth
European Youth Centre Budapest
EU-CoE youth partnership
European Youth Foundation
No Hate Speech Movement
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