The Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) expresses concern over the recent developments in Türkiye, including the restriction of peaceful demonstrations, the narrowing of space for democratic civil society engagement and the reported arrest of elected officials. These developments also affect young people’s ability to participate meaningfully in public life and exercise their democratic rights.

Youth organisations play a central role in fostering youth participation, building democratic resilience, and supporting civic dialogue, especially during societally difficult times. Yet, these organisations now operate under heightened scrutiny and the threat of repression, severely limiting their capacity to function effectively and independently. This shrinking civic space for youth actors is particularly concerning, as youth participation is a cornerstone of a healthy and vibrant democratic society. Read the entire statement

The statements of the Advisory Council are published for the purpose of informing the public about the activities of the statutory bodies of the Council of Europe youth sector. The statements reflect the opinions and positions of the Advisory Council and its members. The views expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Council of Europe.