For the first time in their almost 50-year history, the youth sector co-managed statutory bodies held their biannual meetings fully online on 12-14 October. Determined that the pandemic would not stall unduly business continuity, up to 120 members and observers of the Joint Council on Youth (CMJ) tackled, efficiently and effectively, a full agenda, keeping the spirit of co-management alive despite the physical distancing.
During its 43rd meeting, the Joint Council took several forward-looking decisions: on a new flagship campaign, on greening the youth sector, on tackling anti-racism and on future priorities.
Council of Europe youth campaign for revitalising democracy, building communities and strengthening the participation of young people, emphasising the impact of digitalisation
Following an exchange of views with Snežana Samardžić-Marković, Director General of Democracy, the CMJ decided to set up a Steering Group to prepare a possible campaign to be launched in 2022, while agreeing to review, at its meeting in March 2021, the feasibility of going ahead in light of available financial and human resources. In the meantime, preparations for future national campaigns run by national campaign committees and for partnerships with, amongst others, future chairmanships of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers are to be explored.
Greening the youth sector’s work and young people’s right to a healthy environment
As a result of the thematic debate on “the climate crisis and global governance” held online last June, the CMJ decided to set up a Task Force to introduce a green perspective and young people’s right to a healthy environment into the youth sector’s work. It is hoped the new Task Force will launch its work before the end of this year.
A Co-ordinator on anti-racism for the CMJ
Concerned by the latest critical developments that have brought the issue of racism again to the surface, and following a recent live debate around the Black Lives Matter movement, the Joint Council approved the Advisory Council on Youth’s proposal to nominate a co-ordinator on anti-racism to raise awareness of and promote anti-racist practices in the youth sector.
Shaping the future with new priorities for the Council of Europe youth sector
Looking forward, the Joint Council approved the priorities for pilot activities to be supported by the European Youth Foundation (EYF) in 2021 and recommended that the Youth for Democracy programme for the next biennium 2022-23 adopt the same strategic priorities as the Council of Europe youth sector strategy 2030, i.e. Revitalising pluralistic democracy; Young people’s access to rights; Living together in peaceful and inclusive societies; and Youth work. Agreement was also reached on the expected results for 2022-23, which will be submitted next year to the Committee of Ministers for their final approval.
For more information on the decisions of each committee, please consult our “latest decisions” page
