The Congress has adopted a new European Charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life, aimed at guaranteeing them the rights, the means, the opportunities, and support for taking part in decision-making processes in all policy areas. Building on the achievements of the previous version, adopted in 2003, the new Charter is intended to empower young people at a time when various crisis situations are eroding their trust in democratic processes and threatening their participation in civic life.
Presented by rapporteur Aida Karimli (Sweden, ILDG), the Charter is the result of an extensive consultation process involving youth from all over Europe, often through youth civil society organisations. The revised text and the Congress' resolution and recommendation call on local and regional authorities to promote and apply the principles set out in the Charter by ensuring that young people can participate regularly, meaningfully and safely in decision-making processes. The texts also highlights the need to create enabling and supportive environments, including by training elected representatives and local and regional staff on how to engage effectively with young people and provide feedback on how youth input shapes policy. National governments are invited to establish legal and policy frameworks that support youth participation across all policy areas of governance, and to ensure the Charter is translated and disseminated widely, including in accessible and youth-friendly formats.
"Today's young people are not satisfied with being consulted once in a while, they want to be active partners in decision making and true game changers," stressed the rapporteur. "It is our responsibility, as local and regional authorities, to make this happen and to give real meaning to the concept of democratic participation from an early age on."
European Charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life
Youth delegates at the Congress
