Dmytro Bulatov: “Half of the MPs in Ukraine today are under 40 years of age.”

“Ukraine is going through a period of change during which the initiatives of young people and civil society are gaining strength,” according to Ukrainian Minister for Youth and Sports, Dmytro Bulatov. The presence of greater numbers of young people in parliament, especially those who took part in the “revolution of dignity”, brings new prospects of better supervision of government plans, as well as of combating corruption. The Minister also thanked the Council of Europe for its support on the path to European integration.

Daniela Chacón: “In order to change the system, it is necessary to participate in the system”

Vice-Mayor of Quito, Daniela Chacón referred to the challenges facing democracy: apathy, distrust amongst citizens, lack of access to the government and difficulty identifying with a political party. According to a recent study in Ecuador, only 15% of young people expressed an interest in politics. She called on young people to engage in politics in order to change the system.

Philip Dimitrov, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria: “Democracy is freedom accompanied by responsibility”.

Henryka Mościcka-Dendys: “Young people brought about change in Poland”

Ms Mościcka-Dendys, Poland’s Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for European policy, human rights and parliamentary affairs, recalled her country’s experience of non-violent efforts to promote democracy and human rights. She also invited young people to participate in the “Warsaw Dialogue for Democracy”, which this year highlighted freedom of assembly, equality of opportunity and the potential of social media.

Matt Leighninger, Executive Director of the Deliberative Democracy Consortium: “The different forms of participation in political life work only if they are combined”. Spaces open to young people are needed where they can develop into leaders.

Natasa Vuckovic: “Human beings are at the centre of society, not of the economy”

“Citizens’ disaffection with politics in Serbia is connected to the failure of democracy and reform to achieve the expected results speedily,” according to Natasa Vuckovic, a member of Serbia’s parliament and of the PACE. She gave a reminder of the threat represented by the rise in populism offering quick solutions, which could prove tempting during a crisis.