The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has released two complementary publications: the Advocacy Brief "From Intent to Impact - Implementing the New Law on Youth" and the Manual on Establishing and Managing Youth Councils to support the implementation of the new legal framework on youth.
The publications provide policy recommendations and practical tools to help institutions and youth put into practice the new Law on Youth and the Regulation on Youth Councils, which establish a renewed framework for youth participation at the central and municipal levels.
Based on research, stakeholder consultations, and outreach in 26 municipalities, the Mission identified several implementation challenges, including co-ordination gaps during transition from previous youth structures, limited awareness among youth, unclear financing mechanisms, inclusion barriers for marginalized youth, and sustainability concerns related to voluntary engagement.
Key recommendations to institutions are:
- Strengthening coordination between the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the Agency for Youth Development, municipalities, youth councils, and civil society;
- Rolling out structured training and mentoring programmes to build the youth councils' capacities;
- Ensuring transparent and inclusive selection processes, particularly for youth from non-majority communities and persons with disabilities;
"The two publications, prepared as part of the OSCE Mission's broader support to strengthening democratic and inclusive governance, help to ensure that the new framework translates into meaningful youth participation in decision making," said Pascale Roussy, Director of the Democratization Department at the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.
The accompanying Manual offers step-by-step guidance for establishing the Youth Councils and translates legal provisions into accessible tools, templates, and examples to support youth representatives, municipal and government institutions in implementing the new framework transparently and consistently.
Throughout the year, the Agency for Youth Development, with the support of the Mission, will present the Manual at promotional events in different municipalities across Kosovo.
The Advocacy Brief and the Manual are available at: https://omik.osce.org/mission-kosovo/662578
