DG Democracy and Human Dignity
Directorate of Democratic Participation
Youth Department

THINK YOUTH| No 124 - July 2024

YOUTH PEACE CAMP 2024 - Engaging young people and youth organisations from conflict-stricken regions in dialogue and conflict transformation

EUROPEAN YOUTH CENTRE STRASBOURG - 2-11 JULY 2024

The Youth Peace Camp - flagship activity of the Council of Europe youth sector - with its unique approach allows young people to better understand conflicts and their transformation by listening to and living together with young people affected by other conflicts elsewhere. The European Youth Centre provides them with an adequate and safe environment to learn together about conflict, to share their experiences in approaching them with other young people and to build their capacity to engage and/or develop future conflict transformation projects and initiatives.

In 2024 the Youth Peace Camp aims to develop awareness and basic competences (knowledge, skills and attitude) of participants in human rights education, peacebuilding and intercultural learning to enable them to engage in dialogue and confidence-building initiatives with other young people affected by conflict.

The YPC safe environment will be propitious to building relationships, and to share and learn existing youth work practices and experiences of young people working on dialogue and conflict transformation in their home communities. Participants will be motivated in their role as multipliers in peacebuilding activities with young people.

Read more about the Youth Peace Camp ›

Portraits of the European Youth Centre Strasbourg and Budapest

To celebrate our two iconic buildings of the European Youth Centre, where tens of thousands of young people have congregated over decades to learn, exchange views, network and advocate for human rights and democracy, the Youth Department invited the renowned Monsieur Z to portray them in his signature style in which he already portrayed the Palace of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights.

Illustrations of each Centre are available, in either portrait or landscape format, by writing to [email protected] (while stocks last, one poster per request).

The Council of Europe integrates a youth perspective

Think with Youth – a Youth Perspective is an Attitude
Learn from and with Youth – a Youth Perspective is an Experience
Participate with Youth – a Youth Perspective is a Skill
Act with and for Youth – an Action

These constitute the strategic objectives the Council of Europe is now striving to experience and promote beyond the youth sector with the support of its Youth Department, which is there to ensure that these gold standards can be met on the basis of the Elements for a Council of Europe reference framework for a youth perspective, adopted by the Joint Council on Youth in April 2024 and welcomed by the Committee of Ministers. The Joint Council on Youth (CMJ) is now preparing a reference framework which will be a strategic and political document which will be ready for the 10th Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth on 30 September-2 October 2025, hosted by Malta in the framework of its presidency of the CM.

YOUNG REFUGEES: WHAT CONFIDENCE AT 18?

A seminar on sharing practices of projects and initiatives in support of Young Refugees and Migrants in transition to adulthood

On the occasion of the World Refugee Day, the Youth Department of the Council of Europe hosted the seminar Supporting confidence at 18 at the European Youth Centre Budapest (20-21 June 2024). The seminar focused on the struggles of young refugees, including unaccompanied minors, in exercising their most basic and fundamental human rights. Young refugees, youth workers and activists for human rights shared their practices of projects and initiatives, focusing on the provision of the Council of Europe Recommendation on supporting young refugees in transition to adulthood, 5 years since its adoption. The seminar was organised in cooperation with PICUM and VOICIFY, VYRE and the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on Migration and Refugees.

Youth policy advisory mission to Andorra

A team of Council of Europe experts visited Andorra on 25-26 June 2024, to advise the Andorran Government on the draft Youth Action Plan under preparation and future implementation steps.

The visit took place as part of the CDEJ's programme of cooperation with member states, which aims to help them adopt the Council of Europe's youth policy standards when drawing up their youth policies

European Youth Foundation: update on our reform

The European Youth Foundation is undergoing a process of reform of its grants.

An open consultation was carried out between May and June 2024. Over one hundred respondents provided input to this open consultation. We wish to thank all respondents for their ideas and important contributions!

Furthermore, the EYF will carry out two research studies during the summer period on good practices of donors in grant making to civil society, and on the trends in youth civic engagement.

On 11 and 12 September 2024, the EYF will gather over 30 youth leaders, representatives of member states, youth researchers, and other donors for a consultative meeting to enrich and steer the input for the EYF reform. The outcomes from the numerous consultations will result in an overhaul of the EYF grant schemes, renewal of the operational regulations, as well and working methods and administrative procedures.

YOUTH PERSPECTIVE

The Youth department as well as its Advisory Council on Youth are very active in the definition and promotion of a youth perspective in the Council of Europe inter-governmental and other deliberations.

Marharyta Vorykhava, Vice-chair of the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ)

Advisory Council on Youth addresses the Parliamentary Assembly on strengthening a youth perspective

On 25 June 2024, Anastasios Chatzivasileiou, member of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly and rapporteur on “Strengthening a youth perspective in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly”, presented his report for debate including with the CCJ Vice-Chair. The adopted report and its resolution will be transmitted to the Committee on rules of Procedures, Immunities and Institutional Affairs of PACE which will examine the amendments required to integrate a youth perspective, including by means of improved membership and processes.

Integration of a youth perspective in the work of the Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health

The Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO) took important measures at its 5th plenary meeting (11-12 June 2024) to ensure the integration of a youth perspective in its work. The Committee decided to designate Mark Bale (UK) as Rapporteur for the integration of a youth perspective, it also invited the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) to assist the CDBIO in the development of its strategic action plan 2026‑2030.

Integrating a youth perspective when implementing the new Gender Equality Strategy for 2024-2029

On 30 May 2024, the Gender Equality Commission launched its new Strategy for 2024-2029 at its annual conference: united around gender equality: making space for women and girls; it was co-organised with the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) and in coordination with Stanislava Stefanova, Gender Equality Rapporteur to the CCJ. Nina Grmuša, Anna Knobbout and Stanislava Stefanova presented and discussed, with representatives of the European Youth Forum, a youth perspective on gender-equality. Anja Jokić, member of the Bureau of the CCJ, prepares a report with recommendations to the GEC on how to integrate a youth perspective in the Strategy’s future actions.

Council of Europe Days 2024: Youth Seminar and Policy Symposium on the Active Political Participation of National Minority Youth

On 17-18 June 2024, the Youth department organised at the European Youth Centre Budapest an international Youth seminar and Policy symposium on the issue, putting forward the Committee of Ministers Recommendation CM/Rec(2023)9 on the active political participation of national minority youth.

The event followed up on last year's event by presenting the Recommendation to policy and decision-makers, academic practitioners and members of the Budapest-based diplomatic community. Most importantly, it also gathered young people belonging to national minorities from several Council of Europe member states for a 1.5 day training seminar built around the themes of the recommendation and using the Council of Europe Youth Department’s know-how in facilitating meaningful youth participation on local, national and European levels.

Participatory Youth Policy for civil servants

Trainers for non-formal education

On 10 June, the Council of Europe together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine has launched a new long-term training course – a training for 28 trainers in the field of youth. The course contributes to the implementation of youth projects in Ukraine by developing the competencies of youth workers, youth trainers, young activists, maintaining the quality of non-formal education and training activities in the war and post-war period based on the Council of Europe standards and approaches.

From 14 to 19 July the first residential seminar within the long-term training course - training of trainers will take place in Lviv, Ukraine.

Trauma informed youth work: helping youth workers to help young people

On 12 June Olena Chernykh, Senior Project Officer, the Council of Europe Project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III”, presented the experience and results of the programme “Trauma Informed Youth Work” at the International Conference “Youth Work as a Tool for the Rehabilitation of Young People Affected by War and Armed Conflict”. 24 young people from Armenia, Italy, Azerbaijan, France, Germany, Poland, Kosovo*, Spain and Ukraine participated online. 24 youth workers from Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Lviv regions met together in Sumy.

Building barrier-free environment in the youth sector

On 10-14 June was organised the sixth in a series of training seminars on social cohesion and barrier-free environment in the youth sector. The programme is based on the project experience in 2022 and the eponymous Training Manual. Youth workers of national, regional and local youth centres of Ukraine explored the National Strategy for a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine until 2030 and used the Council of Europe Self-assessment tool for youth policy. As a result, the specialised training course within the State Programme “Youth Worker” was developed.

Young Activists for Participatory Youth Policy

From 24 to 28 June twenty representatives of youth and student councils, youth organisations, youth centres from 10 oblasts of Ukraine, working at the regional and local level, took part in a five-day training seminar on participatory youth policy, youth participation and civic participation in the decision-making process.

Throughout the week, young activists discussed and contributed to the concept of a new state targeted social programme “Youth of Ukraine” for 2026-2030.

New publication: young people and human rights

How are young people affected by human rights violations in Europe? How are their rights safeguarded? What deficiencies exist in the legal systems requiring further action to ensure the protection of their rights in Council of Europe member states?

In this new Youth Partnership publication you will learn about the messages and focus of selected case law of the European Court for Human Rights, what rights have been addressed and what changes in national legislation they have led to.

Read the publication ›

Flanders House celebrates Council of Europe 75th anniversary

On 5 June 2024, Bart Brosius, General Representative of the Diplomatic Representation of Flanders in the UK and Ireland hosted a well-attended panel discussion celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe, the 2024 Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and Flanders’ important role in it.

Co-organised with the Council of Europe Youth Department, the event focused on the crucial role young people play in shaping the Organisation's future. Both the Council of Europe and the Government of Flanders strongly advocate for youth involvement in driving positive change. Especially in today's complex geopolitical landscape, young voices are vital for defending democracy, peace and freedom.