In Strasbourg, during the 51st session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, youth delegates presented their initiatives in support of local democracy, inclusion and security. They all shared the same ambition: to make their voices heard and influence decision-making.
The figures presented by Isabel Rocha (Portugal) illustrate the scale of this mobilisation: 45 youth delegates have led projects involving some 4,400 direct participants and, according to their estimates, reaching over 1.4 million people through the media and social media.
Behind these figures lie a wealth of experiences. Nađa Stojanović (Montenegro) highlighted podcasts in Montenegro, theatre in Serbia, a youth manifesto in Belgium and a digital tool facilitating access to local council information in Switzerland. “Don’t just give young people a voice. Give that voice the power to bring about change,” she urged elected representatives.
Mohammed Amine El Guermat (Morocco) made the same point, presenting, amongst other things, his JIL project, which aims to bring young people closer to decision-makers through local youth councils across Morocco. Because participation alone is not enough: proposals must also be translated into policy.
This can take many forms: whether it is encouraging young people, as in the Luxembourgish and Dutch projects, or fostering dialogue and prioritising marginalised voices, as in the Finnish, Georgian and Portuguese projects. The projects implemented in Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova also demonstrate that youth participation can take place even in the most challenging circumstances.
Lavinia Teodorescu (Romania), for her part, has placed the fight against violence against women at the heart of her commitment. Her campaign led to the distribution of 100 information posters across twelve Romanian counties. She also highlighted the creation of a Bulgarian platform to support victims of violence against women.
In conclusion, Isabel Rocha called on elected representatives to support these projects so that they can continue and expand. Congress members gave a warm reception to the initiatives presented, whilst drawing attention to the difficulties faced by young people in rural areas. “You are on the front line in the fight for a better future,” emphasised one of the speakers.
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