Youth policies and strategies in the context of the MDGs Sub-Regional Workshop for the Gulf States Models of youth political participation by Enzo Amendola Bahrain May 2005

Enzo Amendola International Union of Socialist Youth: Vice-President 2001 – Secretary General International Experience: , IUSY delegate to the UN/WB/ILO meeting , IUSY delegate to the European Youth Forum , member of the Council of Europe Affair Commission, YFJ , member of the Advisory Council at the CoE , IUSY delegate to ICMYO

Models of youth participation 1)FROM THE LOCAL TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL 2) EUROPEAN LEVEL: 2.1) Open method of Coordination 2.2) Co-Management system 3) GLOBAL LEVEL

Defining Youth Organisations Age Limit Based on Active membership Internal Democracy Independent from Government Ad-hoc and/or Structural participation Social and/or Political participation

1) From local to national level consultative model

G-local youth activity Ad Hoc Participation Structural Participation

Youth participation at the local level Local Youth Council National Youth Council Confrontation with the local Institutions

National Youth Council National Institutions Relations with Institutions Action based on: 1.Consultation 2. Proposal Youth issues as a horizontal policy Org. Local Youth Councils

Evaluation on the Consultative Model –The priorities of the decision makers in the youth field could not be influenced by the CM till the changes –The balance between the power of the decision makers and effectiveness of the CM must be reassessed –The CM must lead to effective action at Local/ State level, in particular in order to continue to guarantee young peoples support for and commitment to the process –Young people should be consulted constantly, in a structured and effective way

2) European level First Model: Open method of Coordination and the experience of the European Youth Forum (

What is the EYF? A pan-European platform of national Youth councils and Non-Governmental youth Organisations in Europe Established in member organisations Advocating for the interests of young people towards the international institutions (European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations) Promoting the development of youth work in Europe and internationally Providing services to member organisations

Secretariat Working Units Council of Europe Affairs Commission European Union Affairs Commission European Youth Forum

What makes EYF different from other organisations? The European Youth Forum is the only democratic youth structure in Europe representing youth organisations towards the international institutions - mainly the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations It serves to channel the flow of information and opinions between young people and decision-makers It is the biggest regional youth platform in the world It is run by young people

European Youth Forum Actions Lobby the European Institutions Participate in the consultations on the draft common objectives, the questionnaires and the evaluation report Draft EYF positions after consultation of Member Organisations on the common objectives Regular meetings with the institutions (+ letters, articles and press releases)

Horizontal Aspects Taking more account of youth in other policies: –inclusion of youth dimension in other policies and programmes on national and European level –explore ways in which young people can be taken into consideration in EU Commission proposals and EU Community programmes and initiatives –education, lifelong learning, mobility, employment and social integration, combating racism and xenophobia, autonomy

Open Method of Coordination

n 4 thematic priorities –Participation –Information –Voluntary activities among young people –Greater understanding and knowledge of youth n Consultation European Youth Forum is consulted on the different stages: -T he formulation of the questionnaires -Drafts for common objectives in each priority area - Evaluation report of the OMC

Evaluation on the OMC –The priorities of the framework of European cooperation in the youth field must be discussed (reinforcing existing priorities, new priorities, etc.) –The balance between the flexibility and effectiveness of the OMC must be reassessed –The OMC must lead to effective action at Member State level, in particular in order to continue to guarantee young peoples support for and commitment to the process –Young people should be consulted constantly, in a structured and effective way at both national and European level

2) European level Second Model: Co-Management System and the experience of the Council of Europe (

Key values and work fields of the Council of Europe Democratic ideals and standards European Cultural identity Cooperation on relevant issues for societies Universality of Human Rights

European Court of Human Rights (45 judges) Secretariat General Key bodies of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly ( 45 National parliaments ) NationalParliaments CLRAE (The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe) Local and Regional Authorities Committee of Ministers ( 45 Ministers of Foreign Affairs) NationalGovernments

CoE Secretariat

Co-management structures of the Directorate of Youth and Sport JOINT COUNCIL on YOUTH QUESTIONS AC + CDEJ Programming Committee Young people Youth NGOs ADVISORY COUNCIL 30 Non governmental representatives Committee of Ministers Ministries of Youth Governments CDEJ 48 Non governmental representatives

Committee of Ministers Intergovernmental sector European Steering Committee on Youth, CDEJ, 47 members, The Contracting Parties to the Cultural Convention Working Groups Non-Formal Education and Social cohesion Youth participation and active democratic citizenship Partial agreement on the Youth Card Partial agreement on the Youth Card Non-governmental sector Advisory Council, AC 30 members Advisory Council, AC 30 members 7 national youth committees 13 international non- governmental youth organisations Youth Forum 13 international non- governmental youth organisations Youth Forum 5 other structures Programming Committee 8 CDEJ & 8 AC Programming Committee 8 CDEJ & 8 AC Activities / Services for leaders in youth organisations Co-managed sector Joint Council on Youth Questions European Youth Foundation European Youth Centres 5 international non- governmental youth organisations Non-Youth Forum 5 international non- governmental youth organisations Non-Youth Forum Mobility Fund for Disadvantaged Young People Study sessions Language courses Training courses Symposia Consultative meetings Documentation & research

Structures Intergovernmental sector European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) 48 members Co-managed sector Joint Council on Youth Questions (JC) 78 members Non-governmental sector Advisory Council (AC) 30 members Programming Committee (PC) 16 members

Working Priorities of the DJS Human rights education and Social cohesion Peace and Intercultural dialogue Youth Participation

Evaluation on Co- Management System –The political and economical possibilities of the CoE are limited in order to intervene with a wider range of tools on the youth conditions –The balance between the flexibility and effectiveness of the CMS must be reassessed –The CMS must lead to effective action at the Member State level, in particular in order to continue to guarantee young peoples support for and commitment to the process

3) Global level International Youth Cooperation ICMYO

What is ICMYO? In Geneva in July 2004 the European Youth Forum, together with the International Movement of Catholic Students and the World Organization of the Scout Movement convened an International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations for two main objectives: a)the coordination of political inputs to the ongoing political processes affecting youth worldwide b)the strengthening of the cooperation between youth organisations with a regional and global outreach. oICFTU – International Confederation of Free Trade Unions oIFLRY – International Federation of Liberal Youth, oIFM/SEI – International Falcon Movement – Socialist Educational International oIFMSA – International Federation of Medical Students Associations oIFRC – International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies oIMCS/MIEC – International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS Pax Romana) oIYCS/JECI International Young Catholic Students oIUSY – International Union of Socialist Youth oWAGGGS – World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts oWFDY – World Federation of Democratic Youth oWOSM – World Organization of Scout Movement oYDC – Youth for Development and Cooperation oYMCA – World Alliance of YMCAs oYWCA – World Young Womens Christian Association oYFJ – European Youth Forum oASA - Asian Students Association oRAJ/AYN – Réseau Africain de la Jeunesse/African Youth Network oUPJ/PYU – Union Panafricaine de la Jeunesse/Pan-African Youth Union oAYU – Arab Youth Union oPYC – Pacific Youth Council FLAJ – Foro Latinoamericano de Juventud/Latin American Youth Forum

International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations Action to: oexchange information, experience and concerns oinfluence political processes and decisions of international institutions working/impacting on youth oincrease cooperation at the regional level in order to be stronger and overcome individual limitations owork together on common thematic priorities and to put focus on global youth work

pe ICMYO Global action We call for: 1.Open method of coordination 2.Co- Management system UN Agencies Regional Institutions Reg/Global youth platform MDG

Thank you for your attention!