Youth policies and strategies in the context of the MDGs Sub-Regional Workshop for the Gulf states Models of youth political participation Comparative European perspectives by Åsa Bjering Youth, Governance and freedoms in the Arab States Rabbat 6-8 July 2005

Åsa Bjering President of the National Council of Swedish youth organisations Former experience 2003 Included as an expert in the redoing of Swedish Youth Policy Part of the Swedish National Commission of UNESCO vice President of LSU 2000 Coordinator of the Swedish delegation to the NGO Summit of the UN 1999 – 2001 vice president of the Peaceorganisation PeaceQuest 1999 The Swedish Youth Delegate to the UN General Assembly vice president of the National Association of Swedish pupils councils

The National Council of Swedish Youth organisations Is the coordinating body for 100 Swedish non-governmental youth organisations working in cooperation with 14 similar networks in Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa 1.Knowledge center 2.Meeting place 3.Voice –Party political youth organisations –Student movements –Religious youth organisations –Environmentalists –Ethnical youth organisations –Youth organisations for culture, science, soberness and more…

The National Council of Swedish Youth organisations Lobbying/advocacy: on youth issues - National youth policy - Conditions for youth organisations - Common issues – i.e. Sustainable development; discrimination, formal and non-formal education etc… Capacity building: leadership and organisational development - How to run the organisation democratically - How to work with female leaders within the organisation - How to be accountable towards funders etc…

Defining Youth Organisations UN World Youth Report Firstly youth organisations can be differentiated according to the participation level. There are different levels of participation. The higher the level of participation, the more control influence and responsibility young people will have on the outcomes. There is a difference between ad-hoc and structural participation. Ad-hoc refers to participation in a certain project or conference, while structural participation signifies a more continuous involvement, over a longer period of time. There is also a difference between direct and indirect participation. Direct participation implies direct contact with the decision making person or body. Indirect participation refers to having ones opinion represented by someone else, for example a youth council or a youth worker. Young people can decide themselves on which level, and in what ways, to participate, although the choice will probably be dependent on the willingness of the organisation and its representatives to listen to youth.

Four important perspectives when discussing youth participation Young people are a resource Young people have rights Young people´s independence and self-reliance must be supported Young people are different from one another

Youth and MDG ja

Youth and Agenda 21 youth organisations and political participation Global lobbying Information campaign in schools Presure towards local municipalities National lobbying Information campaign within organisations Information campaign in schools Presure towards local municipalities National lobbying Action based on information and lobbying campaigns

National Youth Council National Institutions National council of youth organisations and political participation within a national process Action based on: 1.Consultation 2. Proposal LSU also formed a action network consisting of representatives from youth NGOs that took a very active role in formulating the policy and reported back to LSU. LSU arranged several hearings and workshops were the National Board of Youth affairs, Minister of youth Affairs participated, in a dialog with representatives from 70 national youth organisations.

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 peoples 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 (

What is the EYF? A pan-European platform of national Youth councils and Non-Governmental youth Organisations in Europe Established in 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

Secretariat Working Units Council of Europe Affairs Commission European Union Affairs Commission European Youth Forum

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

n 4 thematic priorities –Participation –Information –Voluntary activities among young people –Greater understanding and knowledge of youth n Consultation European Youth Forum is consulted on the different stages: -T he 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 peoples 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 (

Key values and work fields of the Council of Europe Democratic ideals and standards European Cultural identity Cooperation on relevant issues for societies Universality of Human Rights

European Court of Human Rights (45 judges) Secretariat General Key bodies of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly ( 45 National parliaments ) NationalParliaments CLRAE (The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe) Local and Regional Authorities Committee of Ministers ( 45 Ministers of Foreign Affairs) NationalGovernments

CoE Secretariat

Co-management structures of the Directorate of Youth and Sport JOINT COUNCIL on YOUTH QUESTIONS AC + CDEJ Programming Committee Young people Youth NGOs ADVISORY COUNCIL 30 Non governmental representatives Committee of Ministers Ministries of Youth Governments CDEJ 48 Non governmental representatives

Committee of Ministers Intergovernmental sector European Steering Committee on Youth, CDEJ, 47 members, The Contracting Parties to the Cultural Convention Working Groups Non-Formal Education and Social cohesion Youth participation and active democratic citizenship Partial agreement on the Youth Card Partial agreement on the Youth Card Non-governmental sector Advisory Council, AC 30 members Advisory Council, AC 30 members 7 national youth committees 13 international non- governmental youth organisations Youth Forum 13 international non- governmental youth organisations Youth Forum 5 other structures Programming Committee 8 CDEJ & 8 AC Programming Committee 8 CDEJ & 8 AC Activities / Services for leaders in youth organisations Co-managed sector Joint Council on Youth Questions European Youth Foundation European Youth Centres 5 international non- governmental youth organisations Non-Youth Forum 5 international non- governmental youth organisations Non-Youth Forum Mobility Fund for Disadvantaged Young People Study sessions Language courses Training courses Symposia Consultative meetings Documentation & research

Structures Intergovernmental sector European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) 48 members Co-managed sector Joint Council on Youth Questions (JC) 78 members Non-governmental sector Advisory Council (AC) 30 members Programming Committee (PC) 16 members

Working Priorities of the DJS Human rights education and Social cohesion Peace and Intercultural dialogue Youth Participation

Evaluation on Co- Management 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 peoples support for and commitment to the process

The un-formal education International Youth Cooperation ICMYO

The call for help

Action to: oexchange information, experience and concerns oinfluence political processes and decisions of international institutions working/impacting on youth oincrease cooperation at the regional level in order to be stronger and overcome individual limitations owork together on common thematic priorities and to put focus on global youth work

pe ICMYO Global action UN Agencies Regional Institutions Reg/Global youth platform MDG

Thank you for your attention!