Youth policies and strategies in the context of the MDGs Sub-Regional Workshop for the Gulf States Models of youth polit

1. Youth policies and strategies in the context of the MDGsSub-Regional Workshop for the Gulf StatesModels of youth political participation by Enzo Amendola Bahrain 28-29 May 2005

2. Enzo Amendola • International Union of Socialist Youth: 1999-2001 Vice-President 2001 – Secretary General • International Experience: 2001 -, IUSY delegate to the UN/WB/ILO meeting 2001 -, IUSY delegate to the European Youth Forum 2001 -, member of the Council of Europe Affair Commission, YFJ 2001 -, member of the Advisory Council at the CoE 2004 -, IUSY delegate to ICMYO

3. 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

4. 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

5. 1) From local to national level consultative model

6. G-local youth activity Ad HocParticipation Structural Participation

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

8. Relations with Institutions Action based on: 1. Consultation 2. Proposal LocalYouthCouncils National Institutions National Youth Council Youthissuesas ahorizontalpolicyOrg.

9. 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 people’s support for and commitment to the process • Young people should be consulted constantly, in a structured and effective way

10. 2) European level First Model: Open method of Coordination and the experience of the European Youth Forum (www.youthforum.org)

11. A pan-European platform of national Youth councils and Non-Governmental youth Organisations in Europe Established in 1996 93 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 What is the EYF?

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

13. 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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. Open Method of Coordination

17. 4 thematic priorities Participation Information Voluntary activities among young people Greater understanding and knowledge of youth Consultation European Youth Forum is consulted on the different stages: - The formulation of the questionnaires - Drafts for common objectives in each priority area - Evaluation report of the OMC Open Method of Coordination

18. 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 people’s 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

19. 2) European level Second Model: Co-Management System and the experience of the Council of Europe (www.coe.int)

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

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

23. CoE Secretariat

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

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

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

27. Human rights education and Social cohesion Peace and Intercultural dialogue Youth Participation Working Priorities of the DJS 2003- 2005

28. 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 people’s support for and commitment to the process

29. International Youth Cooperation ICMYO 3) Global level

30. 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. ICFTU – International Confederation of Free Trade Unions IFLRY – International Federation of Liberal Youth, IFM/SEI – International Falcon Movement – Socialist Educational International IFMSA – International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations IFRC – International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies IMCS/MIEC – International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS Pax Romana) IYCS/JECI International Young Catholic Students IUSY – International Union of Socialist Youth WAGGGS – World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts WFDY – World Federation of Democratic Youth WOSM – World Organization of Scout Movement YDC – Youth for Development and Cooperation YMCA – World Alliance of YMCAs YWCA – World Young Women’s Christian Association YFJ – European Youth Forum ASA - Asian Students Association RAJ/AYN – Réseau Africain de la Jeunesse/African Youth Network UPJ/PYU – Union Panafricaine de la Jeunesse/Pan-African Youth Union AYU – Arab Youth Union PYC – Pacific Youth Council FLAJ – Foro Latinoamericano de Juventud/Latin American Youth Forum What is ICMYO?

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

32. Global action UNAgencies We call for: • Open method of coordination 2. Co-Management system RegionalInstitutions ICMYO Reg/Globalyouth platform MDG pe

33. Thank you for your attention!