Back The Council of Europe really makes a change in young people’s lives!

Talking with the Ministers’ Deputies about democracy
The Council of Europe really makes a change in young people’s lives!

In her speech to the Group of Rapporteurs on Education, Culture, Sport, Youth and Environment of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers (GR-C), Anja Olin Pape, Chair of the Joint Council on Youth (CMJ) praised the mutually beneficial relationship between young people and the Council of Europe.

“Co-management, where young people are at the heart of decision making, is the most advanced democratic system in an international organisation when working with young people”, said Anja. “The Council of Europe should be proud of our common efforts to safeguard and develop democracy in Europe”.

Anja also spoke of the life-changing event of the summer of 2011 when young political activists were attacked in Utoya in her neighbouring country Norway. “Something was shaken and changed forever”, “the attack was aimed at the very foundation of our beliefs – a free and open society where young people have safe spaces to act for a better society and engage as active citizens”. The resulting Council of Europe No Hate Speech Movement Campaign, an initiative of the Advisory Council on Youth, had allowed “youth activists all over the world to denounce fake news, hate speech and excluding narratives”. “This is an excellent example of how the Council of Europe can really make a change in young people’s lives”.

Speaking of the draft recommendation on supporting young refugees in transition to adulthood that was also on the GR-C’s agenda, which was the fruit of close co-operation with the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Anja urged the Deputies to approve the text. She underlined that young refugees, who have faced violence, trauma, loneliness and exploitation, and who still risk violations of their human rights and fundamental freedoms if adequate mechanisms are not put in place, are amongst the most vulnerable groups in society. If the draft recommendation were to be adopted, “the possibilities for young refugees to become active citizens, to participate fully in society, and to contribute their skills and knowledge to their communities” would be enhanced.

Anja ended by saying she hoped the Council of Europe would continue to invest in young people – as it had been doing since 1972 – as “their active participation is crucial for preserving democracy and respect for human rights in Europe”.

Tomáš Boček, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, took the floor for the next item on the GR-C’s agenda and presented the draft recommendation on supporting young refugees in transition to adulthood.

Anja Olin Pape’s full speech

Tomáš Boček’s speaking notes

Strasbourg, France 1 February 2019
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