Deadline: 23-May-2024
In the framework of the project Youth revitalising democracy, the Youth Department organises a seminar to discuss the ways in which young people can be empowered and supported to take part in democratic political life across the continent.
It particularly focuses on the engagement of young people in the electoral cycle, particularly on the right to vote and stand in elections.
The second edition of the seminar aims to contribute to empowering and supporting young people to take part in the democratic political life at local, national and European level. The seminar takes place in parallel with the Parliamentary Assembly session in Strasbourg. It is organised in partnership with the European Youth Forum and the German Federal Youth Council.
Objectives
- The objectives are:
- To map and discuss the barriers and challenges faced by young people in the electoral cycle at local and national level
- To share and learn from different practices of engaging young people in political life from structural measures (lowering voting age) to democratic citizenship and human rights education.
- To explore the role played by political youth organisations in advocating for structural changes that support young people’s engagement in politics.
- To associate the participants with the Council of Europe and its work, notably the Youth Department and the Parliamentary Assembly.
- To make recommendations on how to further address the challenges of political engagement of young people at local, national and international level.
Programme and Methodology
- The seminar will take place in parallel with the session of the Parliamentary Assembly in the Council of Europe. It is expected that the participants will visit the session of the Parliamentary Assembly featuring the election of the Secretary General and will take part in a side event co-organised by the Youth Department. The programme of the activity will be based on the principles and approaches of non-formal learning, building from the experiences and practices of the participants. It will feature lectures from experts, sessions to explore deeper and share good practices, as well as to co-create recommendations and initiatives.
Eligibility Criteria
- The seminar is designed to bring together some 40 participants that are either:
- Representatives of, representing youth organisations and movements, including international youth organisations/networks, political party youth organisations, national youth councils and local youth councils, minority youth organisation, and any other youth civil society motivated to advocate for youth political participation, democracy and human rights or
- Elected representatives (e.g., parliamentarians, elected members of local councils, etc.) interested in advancing youth political participation in a framework of democracy and human rights. or
- Representatives of national and local authorities responsible for youth. or
- Representatives of organisations/institutions involved with political education, including political foundations. or
- Researchers focused on youth political participation in Europe.
- And in addition, fulfil the following criteria:
- Are holding a position in their organisations/institutions that allows them to follow-up on the seminar.
- Are committed to the values of the Council of Europe, democracy, human rights and to youth participation and are interested in taking further action.
- Are motivated and able to take in the entire training course and be involved in the project follow-up.
- Are able to work autonomously in either English language.
- Are resident in one of the state parties to the European Cultural Convention; exceptions can be made if justified.
- Priority will be given to participants aged 18-30.
- The Council of Europe welcomes applications from all candidates who fulfil the specific profile of the activities, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief or sexual orientation.
For more information, visit Council of Europe.